Fashion Consumerism: the Impact of Marketing Strategies on Generation Z Consumers

Authors

  • Ella Bjerre Chadwick School

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i3.2745

Keywords:

Fast Fashion, Sustainable fashion, marketing, Covid-19, Generation Z, Social media

Abstract

The fashion industry is one that constantly changes due to worldly events. One of the most common ways to market fashion to consumers is through social media. Interestingly, Generation Z is one of the leading causes of social media use for marketing. With COVID-19 drastically impacting all aspects of life, the researcher chose to answer this question: “How have fast fashion and sustainable fashion brands adapted their social media marketing to target Generation Z in The United States as a result of the pandemic?” The method chosen for this paper was a content analysis looking at 1,200 Instagram posts uploaded to the accounts of five fast fashion brands, and five sustainable fashion brands within chosen dates between 2019 and 2021. The study found that the biggest shifts in social media marketing lay within advocacy of worldly events, sustainability, and a decrease in regular clothing advertisements. While fast fashion and sustainable fashion brands are certainly different, there are interesting parallels between them as it pertains to social media marketing. 

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References or Bibliography

Chu Lo, Canie K. Y., et al. “Which Bag? Predicting Consumer Preferences for a Luxury Product With a Discrete Choice Experiment.” Australasian Marketing Journal, vol. 29, no. 4, 2021, pp. 329–40. Sage Journals, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/1839334921999506. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Claudio, Luz. “Waste Couture: Environmental Impact of the Clothing Industry.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 115, no. 9, 2007, p. 450. JSTOR, https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/pdf/10.1289/ehp.115-a449. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Dach, Lilian, and Katrin Allmendinger. “Sustainability in Corporate Communications and Its Influence on Consumer Awareness and Perceptions: A Study of H&M and Primark.” Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, vol. 130, 2014, pp. 409–18. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273850172_Sustainability_in_Corporate_Communications_and_its_Influence_on_Consumer_Awareness_and_Perceptions_A_study_of_HM_and_Primark. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

D’Adamo, Idiano, and Gianluca Lupi. “Sustainability and Resilience after COVID-19: A Circular Premium in the Fashion Industry.” Sustainability, vol. 13, no. 4, 2021, p. 1861. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349190043_Sustainability_and_Resilience_after_COVID-19_A_Circular_Premium_in_the_Fashion_Industry. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Devi, Naorem Binita. "Understanding the qualitative and quantitative methods in the context of content analysis." Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries, International Conference organized by International Federation of Library Associations. 2009. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Drisko, James, and Tina Maschi. Content Analysis (Pocket Guide to Social Work Research Methods). Illustrated, Oxford University Press, 2015. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Francis, Tracy. “‘True Gen’: Generation Z and Its Implications for Companies.” McKinsey & Company, 2018, pp. 1–8. EBSCO, www.drthomaswu.com/uicmpaccsmac/Gen%20Z.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Granskog, Anna. “Survey: Consumer Sentiment on Sustainability in Fashion.” McKinsey & Company, 2020. Google Scholar, www.mckinsey.com/~/media/McKinsey/Industries/Retail/Our%20Insights/Survey%20Consumer%20sentiment%20on%20sustainability%20in%20fashion/Survey-Consumer-sentiment-on-sustainability-in-fashion-vF.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Gupta, Shipra, and James W. Gentry. “Evaluating Fast Fashion.” Eco-Friendly and Fair, 2018, pp. 15–23. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.4324/9781351058353-2. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Knošková, ĽUbica, and Petra Garasová. “The Economic Impact of Consumer Purchases in Fast Fashion Stores.” Studia Commercialia Bratislavensia, vol. 12, no. 41, 2019, pp. 58–70. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334111142_The_Economic_Impact_of_Consumer_Purchases_in_Fast_Fashion_Stores. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Koivulehto, Eeva Ilona. “Do Social Media Marketing Activities Enhance Customer Equity? A Case Study of Fast-Fashion Brand Zara.” Aalto University, 2017, pp. 10–12. EBSCO, aaltodoc.aalto.fi/bitstream/handle/123456789/26042/bachelor_Koivulehto_Ilona_2017.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Krippendorff, Klaus. “Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology.” Content Analysis: An Introduction to Its Methodology, 2nd ed., Sage Publications, Inc, 2003, p. 18. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Kustenkova, Zhanna. “The Sustainable Future of the Modern Fashion Industry.” Journal Of Consumer Research, 2017, p. 6. Crossref, https://scholar.dominican.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=honors-theses. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Magdy, Yasmina. “How Is the Fashion Industry Adapting to the Needs and Wants of the Ethical Consumer?” Seven Bridges, 2020, pp. 47–51. Seven Bridges, sevenbridges.ncl-coll.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Seven-Bridges-Vol.-8-2020.pdf#page=47. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Mehta, Seema, et al. “The New Consumer Behavior Paradigm amid COVID-19: Permanent or Transient?” Journal of Health Management, vol. 22, no. 2, 2020, pp. 291–301. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343328539_The_New_Consumer_Behaviour_Paradigm_amid_COVID-19_Permanent_or_Transient. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Merbler, Tyler. “Los Angeles, CA.” Data USA, 2019, datausa.io/profile/geo/los-angeles-ca#age_nativity. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Moorhouse, Debbie. “Making Fashion Sustainable: Waste and Collective Responsibility.” One Earth, vol. 3, no. 1, 2020, pp. 17–19. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2020.07.002. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Niinimäki, Kirsi, et al. “The Environmental Price of Fast Fashion.” Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, vol. 1, no. 4, 2020, pp. 189–200. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/340635670_The_environmental_price_of_fast_fashion. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Park, Hyejune. “Proactive Versus Reactive Apparel Brands in Sustainability: Influences on Brand Loyalty.” Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 2015, p. 115. ScienceDirect, isiarticles.com/bundles/Article/pre/pdf/50868.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Prakash Yadav, Gyan, and Jyotsna Rai. “The Generation Z and Their Social Media Usage: A Review and a Research Outline.” Global Journal of Enterprise Information System, vol. 9, no. 2, 2017, p. 111. ResearchGate, ​​https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318005826_The_Generation_Z_and_their_Social_Media_Usage_A_Review_and_a_Research_Outline. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Press, Melea, and Eric J. Arnould. “Narrative Transparency.” Journal of Marketing Management, vol. 30, no. 1355, 2014, pp. 1353–76. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267104366_Narrative_transparency. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Shen, Dong. “Consumers’ Awareness of Sustainable Fashion.” Consumers’ Awareness of Sustainable Fashion, 2013, p. 137. ProQuest, www.mmaglobal.org/publications/MMJ/MMJ-Issues/2013-Fall/MMJ-2013-Fall-Vol23-Issue2-Complete.pdf#page=141. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Statista. “Instagram: Distribution of Global Audiences 2022, by Age Group.” Statista, 22 Mar. 2022, www.statista.com/statistics/325587/instagram-global-age-group. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Statista. “U.S. Population by Generation 2020.” Statista, 10 Sept. 2021, www.statista.com/statistics/797321/us-population-by-generation. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Thomas, Mary Rani, et al. “Online Website Cues Influencing the Purchase Intention of Generation Z Mediated by Trust.” Indian Journal of Commerce & Management Studies, vol. IX, no. 1, 2018, p. 13. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322367500_Online_Website_Cues_Influencing_the_Purchase_Intention_of_Generation_Z_Mediated_by_Trust. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Vieira, Jorge, et al. “Generation Z and Key-Factors on E-Commerce: A Study on the Portuguese Tourism Sector.” Administrative Sciences, vol. 10, no. 4, 2020, p. 3. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/347874005_Generation_Z_and_Key-Factors_on_E-Commerce_A_Study_on_the_Portuguese_Tourism_Sector. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Wijaya, Tony, et al. “E-Lifestyle Confirmatory of Consumer Generation Z.” International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, vol. 11, no. 10, 2020, p. 1. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/346661456_e-Lifestyle_Confirmatory_of_Consumer_Generation_Z. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Zach. “Third Variable Problem: Definition and Example.” Statology, 19 Feb. 2021, www.statology.org/third-variable-problem/#:%7E:text=In%20statistics%2C%20a%20third%20variable,be%20misleading%20and%20even%20confusing.

Žukauskas, Pranas, et al. “Corporate Social Responsibility as the Organization’s Commitment against Stakeholders.” Management Culture and Corporate Social Responsibility, 2018, pp. 10–11. ResearchGate, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324711492_Corporate_Social_Responsibility_as_the_Organization's_Commitment_against_Stakeholders. Accessed 20 Nov. 2021.

Published

08-31-2022

How to Cite

Bjerre, E. (2022). Fashion Consumerism: the Impact of Marketing Strategies on Generation Z Consumers. Journal of Student Research, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i3.2745

Issue

Section

AP Capstone™ Research