Dimensions of young people’s motivations for buying second-hand clothing: a parsimonious scale

Abstract

The purchase of second-hand clothing among young people has become a common practice in recent years as a counter-trend to fast fashion consumption. Based on the defi- nition of the fast fashion concept and its negative consequences for the environment, this study reviews the scale proposed by Guiot and Roux (2010) to find a parsimonious scale that allows for a better evaluation of the motivations that lead young people to make these types of purchases. Through a review of literature on consumer behavior regarding fast fashion but also on purchases in flea markets by Generation Z youth, the need to iden- tify a simpler model that represents responsible purchasing in this industry was found, allowing for a better understanding and analysis in a more straightforward manner. A factorial analysis was applied to 22 items using SPSS software, which identified five dimensions (Emotional Motivators, Rational Motivators, Self-perception Construction, Social Stigma, and Understanding the Circular Fashion Construct) that are essential for explaining the sustainable purchasing behavior of second-hand clothing among young consumers. Ultimately, it can be inferred that although young people of this generation understand the importance of sustainable fashion and do not dislike buying second-hand clothing, there still exists a certain social stigma towards this purchasing behavior.