This study was conducted to compare the awareness, knowledge, attitudes and practices towards sustainable fashion of selected UPLB students. Specifically, it sought to: 1) describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents of the study; 2) explain their awareness, knowledge, attitude and practices (AKAP) on sustainable fashion; 3) analyze the relationship between their AKAP towards sustainable fashion; 4) compare the AKAP of students who have not yet taken the HUME 112: Sustainability Science course (first cohort) and students who have finished the HUME 112 course (second cohort) on sustainable fashion; and 5) formulate recommendations on the AKAP of selected UPLB students.
This research was conducted using a qualitative research method with a total of 225 selected UPLB students determined through purposive sampling. Self-administered survey questionnaire through Google forms was used as a research instrument. This study used both primary and secondary data. The data gathered from the socio-demographic characteristics and AKAP were presented using descriptive statistics. The other tests used were Spearman’s correlation and Mann-Whitney U-test.
Based on the awareness level, the respondents from the first cohort showed a moderate level of awareness on the environmental and social impacts of fast fashion while the respondents om the second cohort showed a high level of awareness. For the knowledge level, many (77%) respondents from the first cohort had a high level of knowledge on the SDG 12 definition, definition, forms, practices of sustainable fashion and sustainable fashion brands in the Philippines. Similarly, almost all (95%) of the respondents from the second cohort showed a high level of knowledge. Both cohorts showed favorable attitude towards sustainable fashion and had a moderate level of practice towards sustainable fashion.
Regarding the relationship of the variables, for the first cohort, awareness and knowledge, awareness and practices, and knowledge and practices had a significant relationship with each other. For the second cohort, only the variables of awareness and knowledge and awareness and practices had a significant relationship with each other.
Lastly, results showed that there is a significant difference in the awareness and knowledge level between the two cohorts, but there is no significant difference between the two cohorts’ attitudes and practices towards sustainable fashion.