Fashion and sustainability, assessing the knowledge level of fashion designers in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana

Abstract

The prime determination of this study is to explore fashion designers’ knowledge level; including their understanding and awareness of the contemporary best practices in sustainable fashion practices in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana. The mixed method research design was used to conduct the study. A total of 114 participants including were purposively sampled from an estimated population of 600 fashion designers in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Both Questionnaires and interviews were used as the main data collection instruments. The study found that fashion companies are not changing their ways fast enough to counterbalance the devastating environmental impacts that come with growing so quickly as an industry and Fashion companies have not even begun to take sustainability seriously. Additionally, the study found that both the textile and clothing lifecycles consume more energy and water than the product lifecycles of any other industry hence the significant impact of fashion is not only a result of industry actions but of consumer action, as well. It was therefore, recommended that the fashion industry’s large-scale wave of movement toward sustainability is evident; however, there remain questions and challenges to be addressed, hence it is recommended that companies should make gradual but carefully holistically considered steps in the right direction can be much more effective.