Abstract
Consumer behaviour now prioritizes sustainability because thrift shopping has become a substitute for fast fashion. This article examines the behavioural economic principles which determine consumer buying behaviour at thrift stores by studying the economic characteristics of samples collected from Ernakulam district in Kerala. The research uses primary data by interviewing people and performing statistical analyses which contain correlation tests and the Sustainable Consumption Score (SCS). Research outcomes show that both socio-economic variables and ethical awareness levels strongly affect consumer decisions. This article show how social stigma is fading and environmental concern is increasing by education and awareness. The findings highlight which behavioural economic principles are working behind the behavioural shift behind the growth of second hand cloth shopping boom.
References
1. Bardhi, F., & Arnould, E. J. (2005). Thrift shopping: Combining utilitarian thrift and hedonic treat benefits. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 4(4), 223–233. https://doi.org/10.1002/cb.1
2. Calica, J. (2022, February 15). Thrifting trend challenges traditional retail stores. BYU Daily Universe. https://universe.byu.edu/2022/02/15/thrifting-trend-challengestraditional-retail-stores/
3. Igini, M. (2024, May 30). 10 concerning fast fashion waste Statistics. Earth.Org. https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/
4. India’s share of global trade in textiles and apparel stands at 3.9%. (n.d.). https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2089508#:~:text=India%20is%20the %206th%20largest,trade%20in%20textiles%20and%20apparel
5. Markova, I., & Grajeda, J. (2018, January 1). Consumer Attitudes and Purchase Intentions toward Second-hand Clothing Online and through Social Media Platforms: Does Gender and Income Matter? International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. https://iastatedigitalpress.com/itaa/article/id/1442/
6. Quoquab, Farzana & Mohammad, Jihad & Sukari, Nurain. (2019). A multiple-item scale for measuring ―sustainable consumption behaviour‖ construct: Development and psychometric evaluation. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics. 31. 10.1108/APJML-02-2018-0047.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2025 South India Journal of Social Sciences
