ECONOMICS OF ECO-FRIENDLY APPAREL
Consumers convey attitudes and exhibit behaviors that indicate a strong connection between their economic concerns and their decisions to purchase eco-friendly apparel. More than 6 out of 10 consumers (61%) agree that due to the current economic situation, they are less likely to pay more for eco-friendly clothing. However, buying locally has gained momentum as a national movement and 78% of consumers say that knowing a clothing item would support U.S. jobs or the economy would be very influential in their ultimate decision to purchase. Notably, consumer concern about products being made outside of the U.S. has increased to 68%, up from 65% in 2012.
Consumers believe that domestically manufactured clothing is better for the environment than apparel made overseas. Half of consumers (50%) think that clothing imported from other countries is less eco-friendly than clothing made in the USA. Consumers say the primary reasons that products manufactured in the U.S. are more environmentally-friendly is due to domestic regulation and environmental protection laws that other countries may not have or do not enforce. For American consumers, buying domestically manufactured clothing satisfies their desire to act in eco-friendly ways and to support the national economy.