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Emotion or Information: What Makes Consumers Communicate about Sustainable Apparel Products on Social Media?

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  • Jihyeong Son

    (Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA)

  • Changhyun Nam

    (College of Entrepreneurship, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306, USA)

  • Sonali Diddi

    (Design and Merchandising, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA)

Abstract

This study investigated how sustainability-related messages of cotton textile and apparel products influence consumers’ attitudes toward the message and interaction with other consumers in social media. Three hundred and eighty-eight online survey data of US consumers investigated the effects of perceived information and emotion toward sustainability practice messages on attitude toward and social interaction with other consumers and the effects of attitude on social interaction in social media. The results confirm that emotion is an influential variable, and, specific, positive emotion is an influential variable for attitude, and attitude influences social interaction with other consumers of sustainability practice messages. Negative emotions influence both attitude and social interaction. The information does not influence attitude but directly impacts social interaction, which may bring the purchase intention of sustainable fashion products. Thus, apparel marketers should consider emotionally sustainable promotion messages when tailoring their brand communications on social media. This study helps clarify the relationships between emotion and social interaction for sustainable fashion products. It also contributes to the theoretical foundation and has implications for sustainable fashion marketing and management in social media.

Suggested Citation

  • Jihyeong Son & Changhyun Nam & Sonali Diddi, 2022. "Emotion or Information: What Makes Consumers Communicate about Sustainable Apparel Products on Social Media?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2849-:d:761568
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Xin Shen & Xun Cao & Sonia Sadeghian Esfahani & Tayyaba Saleem, 2022. "Factors Influencing Consumers’ Purchase Intention on Cold Chain Aquatic Products under COVID-19: An Investigation in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(8), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Reason Masengu & Patson Chawuruka & Chenjerai Muchenje, 2025. "Environment attitudes and social influence of sustainable practices: a study on consumer behaviour in Zimbabwe," Future Business Journal, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 1-18, December.
    3. Chi-Jui Tsai & Wen-Jye Shyr, 2022. "Key Factors for Evaluating Visual Perception Responses to Social Media Video Communication," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-15, October.
    4. Myriam Caratù & Patrizia Cherubino & Stefano Menicocci & Ana C. Martinez-Levy, 2024. "Does sustainable communication have an impact on international social media audiences? A neuromarketing explorative study between Finland and Italy," Italian Journal of Marketing, Springer, vol. 2024(1), pages 21-54, March.

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