Identifying predictors of consumer willingness to purchase second-hand or rent clothing online

The most recent developments in the sustainable fashion indicate the need to further study circular consumption. Ethical identity is linked to decision-making as morally correct or incorrect in relation to perceived brand value and demographics of today’s modern consumers. The study focuses on the role of ethical intensity, perceived social and emotional value and demographic characteristics in relation to consumer willingness to rent or purchase second-hand clothing online. The study employed an online survey to collect data in the United Kingdom and Lithuania. These two countries are relevant for this study because they both are situated in Europe. They both have options for consumers to shop second-hand or rent clothing online, which allows for meaningful data comparison. The study’s findings suggest that demographics, that is, gender acts as significant predictors for consumer willingness to purchase or rent second-hand clothing online in both countries, while age is only significant for Lithuania but not for the UK. Ethical intensity is an important driver of consumer willingness to rent or purchase second-hand clothing online in the UK but not in Lithuania. Perceived social and emotional value is the strongest significant predictor in the consumer willingness to rent or purchase second-hand clothing in both countries. By examining the abovementioned drivers, the study contributes to knowledge on how to better predict consumer decision-making. Specifically, the study introduces ethical intensity construct to the online second-hand and rental clothing context to aid the explanation of consumer willingness to purchase second-hand or rent clothing in the online context. AcknowledgmentThis project has received funding from the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT), agreement No [S-MIP-22-27].