O'Nascimento, Ricardo, Petreca, Bruna, Seaton, Morag and Baurley, Sharon, 2026, Journal Article, Circular shirt builder: An apparel configurator to support healthier consumption boundaries in the textiles circular economy Cleaner and Responsible Consumption, 21. pp. 1-13. ISSN 2666-7843
| Abstract or Description: | The fashion industry faces urgent challenges related to overconsumption, material waste, and consumer detachment from garment lifecycles. While circular economy (CE) principles offer a promising alternative, strategies that actively engage consumers in circular practices remain underexplored. This study presents the Circular Shirt Builder (CSB), a physical apparel configurator designed to promote circular behaviours through modular garment design and embodied customisation. Using a Living Lab methodology, 19 participants engaged with the CSB in a stakeholder engagement platform in a retail-like setting, assembling modular shirts from a predefined library of components. The study employed a dual analysis approach: inductive thematic analysis and a deductive evaluation using the wellbeing framework for consumer experiences in the circular economy of the textile industry. Findings suggest that the CSB can foster emotional attachment, support learning about garment construction, encourage creative self-expression, and prompt reflection on consumption habits. Several wellbeing dimensions, such as playfulness, agency, and prospective thinking, appeared to be activated through the hands-on interaction. This research indicated that configurator tools grounded in circular and wellbeing principles may support long-term product use, more mindful consumption, and greater consumer involvement in transitions toward a circular textile economy. |
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| School or Centre: | Other |
| Funders: | This research was funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/V011766/1) National Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Research (NICER) programme for the UKRI Interdisciplinary Circular Economy Centre for Textiles: Circular Bioecono |
| Identification Number or DOI: | 10.1016/j.clrc.2026.100390 |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Jan 2026 16:36 |
| Last Modified: | 01 Feb 2026 00:04 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.rca.ac.uk/id/eprint/6795 |
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