I collected information from 20 interviewees and obtained their consent to record the interviews. There were 9 female and 11 male participants and 9 Millennials and 11 Gen-Zs among the respondents. The oldest participant was 36 years old and the youngest was 18.
Only one male respondent told me that he did not have any unwanted clothes. The other 19 respondents all have unwanted clothes.
Most of the interviewees told me that they are willing to try second-hand clothes, but they have some concerns that make them hesitant. I have summarized some of the reasons they mentioned: hygiene concerns, personal preference for new items, and lack of accessibility to second-hand shops.
Reflection on the effectiveness of my method: I found that my approach to collecting attitudes and behaviors from my target audience through street interviews was effective. I explored the attitudes and behaviors of young people in London towards old clothes, and I believe that these practices are applicable globally. My goal is to promote sustainable clothing concept and provide practical advice for taking action in different cultural and social backgrounds. However, my method still has limitations. I would like to have a greater impact on Chinese people’s attitude towards clothing reuse, in addition to the UK. But I am currently in London. My interviewees may only represent a part of the population, and I will consider improving future interventions.
Data collection analysis: I analyzed the data collected from street interviews. The realization that most interviewees had a strong awareness of the concept of second-hand usage indicates that sustainability consciousness is gradually spreading. The finding that most interviewees are willing to try second-hand clothes suggests that there may be more people choosing to buy second-hand clothes in the future. Understanding the concerns of interviewees about second-hand clothes, such as hygiene issues, personal preference for new items, and accessibility issues to second-hand shops, can help me better understand consumer needs and preferences, and thus develop more targeted intervention strategies.
Reflection on stakeholder involvement: My first street interview was random, and the young people between 18 and 36 years old were my stakeholders. In the future, I will study the attitudes and behaviors of young people in Shanghai towards sustainability, and explore whether they face similar issues as young people in London. I think I should collaborate with more institutions and brands to ensure the feasibility of the project.
Reflection on personal bias: I had personal bias towards this topic from the beginning. After conducting a series of investigations, the data changed my perspective. For example, I predicted that people would be more unaware of how to deal with unwanted clothes. But the fact is that most people have a strong concept of second-hand usage.