College Students’ Sustainability Awareness towards Apparel and Cotton Industries

The purpose of this study was to assess students’ level of sustainability awareness towards apparel and cotton industries by examining their knowledge, skills, and attitude. A convenience sample of 170 college students at one of the U.S. south-eastern universities was recruited through an online survey and used for data analysis. The findings reveal that the level of students’ knowledge, skills, and attitude towards sustainability are comparatively greater in apparel industry than cotton industry. Also, students have higher attitude than knowledge and skills towards sustainability. College education may fulfill this gap by offering a comprehensive curriculum to enhance their knowledge and skills on sustainability. If students are truly prepared to influence and be part of textiles and clothing industry changes, the academic curriculum needs to holistically reflect values and vision of sustainability, which will allow them to become the change agents.