An Exploration of Transformative Learning Applied to the Triple Bottom Line of Sustainability for Fashion Consumers

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Dear Authors

Kindly revise your study after reading the below points (if you agree that these points are important to improve the overall quality of your work).

 

Best Wishes 

 

Abstract:

As a reviewer, I find this study to be both timely and relevant, given the increasing global interest in sustainability and its impact on the textile and apparel industry. The focus on Generation Z fashion consumers adds a fresh perspective, as their values and behaviors are crucial for understanding future trends in the industry. The study's use of the transformative learning theory as a framework is a strong foundation for exploring the current knowledge and attitudes of Gen Z fashion consumers towards sustainability. The qualitative research method employed, specifically the focus group discussions, allows for a richer understanding of participants' perspectives. The results, which present five themes emerging from the discussions, provide valuable insights into the limited understanding of sustainability among consumers, mainly focusing on the environmental aspect. The shift in understanding from environmental to social aspects after transformative sharing and discussions is an important finding that could inform future educational initiatives.

 

However, there are a few areas that could be improved or elaborated upon:

 

Sample size: With only twenty participants, the study may not capture the full range of perspectives and experiences of Gen Z fashion consumers. A larger, more diverse sample could strengthen the findings and their generalizability.

 

Methodological transparency: The abstract could provide more information on the two activities implemented during the focus group sessions to help readers understand how they contributed to the transformative learning process.

 

Practical implications: The abstract could briefly mention the potential applications of these findings, such as informing educational programs or marketing strategies for sustainable fashion.

 

Further research: It would be helpful to suggest avenues for future research, such as exploring the impact of different educational interventions on consumers' understanding and behavior related to sustainable fashion.

 

Introduction:

there are a few areas that could be improved or expanded upon:

 

Citation style: The study  would benefit from a consistent citation style, following a standard format such as APA, MLA, or Chicago or any other in line with this publisher’s guidelines. This would make it easier for readers to locate and reference the sources mentioned.

Clarification of terms: The study should provide definitions or explanations of terms such as "economic prosperity," "social capital," and "environmental quality" to ensure that readers understand their meanings in the context of TBL theory and sustainability.

Connection to the study: The study could benefit from a clearer link between the background information provided and the specific objectives of the study, emphasizing how the research contributes to the existing literature and addresses gaps in knowledge regarding Generation Z consumers and sustainable fashion.

Methodological details: The study briefly mentions the use of interactive activities implemented in focus group sessions. It would be helpful to provide more information on these activities and how they relate to the transformative learning theory. This would help readers understand the rationale behind the chosen methodology and its potential impact on the findings.

Theoretical Background

There are a few areas that could be improved or expanded upon:

 

Connection to the study: While the study provides a thorough explanation of TLT, it does not explicitly connect the theory to the study's objectives or research questions. It would be helpful to explain how TLT informs the study's design or how the researchers expect to observe the transformative learning process in the context of Generation Z's understanding of sustainability in the apparel and textile industry.

 

Citation consistency: As I mentioned above

Clarity: The literature could benefit from improved clarity in some sentences. For example, the sentence "Mezirow (1970) also proposed ten phases that an adult may experience, including a disorienting dilemma, a self-examination, a critical assessment of different assumptions, recognition, explorations of options, planning an action, knowledge acquisition, new roles trying provision, self-confidence or competence building, and reintegration of knowledge [38]" is quite long and could be broken down into smaller, more digestible sentences.

 

Phase explanations: While the literature outlines the three fundamental phases of transformative learning, it would be beneficial to provide more context for each phase. Specifically, the second phase could be clarified, as it currently combines self-reflection and critical assessment of different assumptions, making it difficult to distinguish between the two aspects.

 

Literature review

Connection to the study: While the literature review provides relevant background information, it would be helpful to explicitly connect the discussed concepts to the study's objectives or research questions. For instance, the authors could emphasize the role of Generation Z in the context of fashion sustainability and how their knowledge and perceptions could impact the industry's sustainability practices.

 

Further exploration of social aspects: The passage briefly mentions the challenges associated with defining and addressing the social aspects of sustainability. The authors could expand upon this by discussing potential solutions or strategies to overcome these challenges within the fashion industry. This could help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of sustainability in the fashion context.

 

 

4. Materials and Methods

Participant recruitment: The authors mention the use of cloud-based participant management software from Southwestern University's large participant pool. It would be helpful to provide additional information on the recruitment process, such as the inclusion and exclusion criteria used for selecting participants and the total number of potential participants in the pool.

 

Focus group procedure: While the semi-structured format of the questions is mentioned, it would be useful to provide more context on how the focus groups were conducted. For example, the authors could describe the role of the facilitator, the setting, and any measures taken to ensure a comfortable and open discussion environment for participants.

 

Data analysis details: The authors briefly describe the thematic analysis technique used for data interpretation. It would be helpful to provide more information on the steps taken during the analysis, such as the process of code generation, the identification of emerging themes, and any measures used to ensure the trustworthiness of the analysis (e.g., member checking, researcher reflexivity).

 

Demographic information presentation: The authors mention the demographic information of the participants, but it might be more effective to present this information in a table format for clarity and easier visualization.

 

5. Results

Some grammatical errors and sentence structures could be revised to enhance readability and clarity. For example, "The overall interpretation based on the thematic analysis method occurred, and five key themes emerged." could be rephrased to "Based on the thematic analysis, five key themes emerged."

The connection between the themes and the phases of transformative learning theory could be explained more explicitly. While the authors mention the resemblance between the themes and some phases of the theory, they do not delve deeper into this connection and how it might contribute to a better understanding of the participants' perceptions and experiences.

The authors could provide more information on the demographics of the participants, such as their socioeconomic background, educational level, or any other factors that might have influenced their perceptions and experiences regarding sustainability in the fashion industry. This would help contextualize the findings and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the perspectives of Generation Z.

The recommendations derived from the findings, such as improving communication about sustainable practices, supporting small local businesses, and working collaboratively with larger organizations, could be summarized and discussed in a separate section. This would make it easier for readers to understand the practical implications of the study and the potential steps that could be taken to address the challenges and opportunities identified by the participants.

 

Discussion and Conclusion"

This  section provides a clear and concise summary of the study's findings, relating them to the Triple Bottom Line theory and Mezirow's transformative learning theory. The authors have identified key themes that emerged from the focus group discussions, such as Short-Sighted Actions, Disseminating the story, Filling the Information Gap, Normalizing Customer Activism, and Challenging But Not Impossible. These themes are well-supported by quotes from the focus group participants.

 

One notable aspect of the study is the observation that participants' awareness of sustainability expanded from environmental concerns to social and economic aspects after receiving education on the Triple Bottom Line theory. This shift in perception shows the potential for improving consumers' understanding of sustainability through targeted educational efforts.

 

The conclusion highlights the importance of continuous transformation in learning and the significant impact this can have on achieving a balance among the three aspects of sustainability. Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential influence of Gen Y and Z consumers, considering their large market size.

 

Some minor suggestions for improvement include:

 

The authors could briefly discuss the implications of their findings for fashion companies and policymakers in promoting sustainable practices.

 

The limitations of the study, such as the predominantly Caucasian and female sample, could be acknowledged, and recommendations for future research could be provided.

Author Response

Dear Authors

 

Kindly revise your study after reading the below points (if you agree that these points are important to improve the overall quality of your work).

 

--- Thank you so much for the thoughtful and valuable comments. We revised the manuscript based on the comments, and these changes are highlighted in yellow in the manuscript. Also, we responded to the reviewers’ comments in detail as below.

 

Best Wishes 

 

Abstract: 

 

As a reviewer, I find this study to be both timely and relevant, given the increasing global interest in sustainability and its impact on the textile and apparel industry. The focus on Generation Z fashion consumers adds a fresh perspective, as their values and behaviors are crucial for understanding future trends in the industry. The study's use of the transformative learning theory as a framework is a strong foundation for exploring the current knowledge and attitudes of Gen Z fashion consumers towards sustainability. The qualitative research method employed, specifically the focus group discussions, allows for a richer understanding of participants' perspectives. The results, which present five themes emerging from the discussions, provide valuable insights into the limited understanding of sustainability among consumers, mainly focusing on the environmental aspect. The shift in understanding from environmental to social aspects after transformative sharing and discussions is an important finding that could inform future educational initiatives.

 

However, there are a few areas that could be improved or elaborated upon:

 

--- Thank you for the thoughtful and valuable comments. The modifications are highlighted in yellow color throughout the paper. Also, you can find the responses to the comments below.

 

Sample size: With only twenty participants, the study may not capture the full range of perspectives and experiences of Gen Z fashion consumers. A larger, more diverse sample could strengthen the findings and their generalizability.

 

 --- Thank you for the comment.  We agree that twenty participants will not capture the general perception of the large population, but as this is qualitative research, the purpose of this research was to obtain insights on sustainability perception rather than data with a solid statistical basis and the generalization of the findings. We put the generalizability of the findings as a limitation of the study (as other qualitative studies do) and believe the outcome of this research would encourage future researchers to develop effective ways of providing better knowledge to Gen Z consumers with a larger sample in a qualitative approach. See lines 550-552 on page 12.

 

 

Methodological transparency: The abstract could provide more information on the two activities implemented during the focus group sessions to help readers understand how they contributed to the transformative learning process.

 

--- We modified sentences (see lines 22-25 on page 1) and updated information regarding video and website relation with transformative learning.

 

Practical implications: The abstract could briefly mention the potential applications of these findings, such as informing educational programs or marketing strategies for sustainable fashion.

 

--- Thank you so much for pointing out this. We added the short implications in the abstract. Please see lines 26-28 on page 1.

 

Further research: It would be helpful to suggest avenues for future research, such as exploring the impact of different educational interventions on consumers' understanding and behavior related to sustainable fashion.

 

 --- Thank you so much for pointing out this. As suggested, we added avenues for future research. Please see lines 552-556 on page 12.

 

Introduction: 

There are a few areas that could be improved or expanded upon:

Citation style: The study  would benefit from a consistent citation style, following a standard format such as APA, MLA, or Chicago or any other in line with this publisher’s guidelines. This would make it easier for readers to locate and reference the sources mentioned.

 

 --- Thank you so much for pointing out this. As suggested, we made a consistent citation style following the Vancouver format, similar to most Sustainability journal articles.

 

Clarification of terms: The study should provide definitions or explanations of terms such as "economic prosperity," "social capital," and "environmental quality" to ensure that readers understand their meanings in the context of TBL theory and sustainability.

 

--- We modified and updated the technical words into a more general form. The changes were made from lines 48-55 on page 2.

 

Connection to the study: The study could benefit from a clearer link between the background information provided and the specific objectives of the study, emphasizing how the research contributes to the existing literature and addresses gaps in knowledge regarding Generation Z consumers and sustainable fashion.

 

--- We tried to connect background information with the study's objectives by adding a link between Gen Z consumers with sustainable behavior and a short implication on the introduction. The changes were made in lines 66-81 on page 2.

 

Methodological details: The study briefly mentions the use of interactive activities implemented in focus group sessions. It would be helpful to provide more information on these activities and how they relate to the transformative learning theory. This would help readers understand the rationale behind the chosen methodology and its potential impact on the findings.

 

 --- Thank you so much for this valuable comment. We updated the study design in the method section and added different segments we had in the focus group discussion. Furthermore, we updated the rationale of how showing the video and website browsing affected transformative learning.  Please see highlighted lines 228-242 on page 5.

 

Theoretical Background

There are a few areas that could be improved or expanded upon:

 

Connection to the study: While the study provides a thorough explanation of TLT, it does not explicitly connect the theory to the study's objectives or research questions. It would be helpful to explain how TLT informs the study's design or how the researchers expect to observe the transformative learning process in the context of Generation Z's understanding of sustainability in the apparel and textile industry.

 

  --- Thank you so much for the suggestion. We explained more about the connection of transformative theory in the context of Generation Z consumers’ understanding of sustainability. Please see highlighted last sentences of the second paragraph on pages 2-3 (lines 90-101).

 

Clarity: The literature could benefit from improved clarity in some sentences. For example, the sentence "Mezirow (1970) also proposed ten phases that an adult may experience, including a disorienting dilemma, a self-examination, a critical assessment of different assumptions, recognition, explorations of options, planning an action, knowledge acquisition, new roles trying provision, self-confidence or competence building, and reintegration of knowledge [38]" is quite long and could be broken down into smaller, more digestible sentences.

 

--- Thank you. We broke them into two small sentences, as suggested.

 

Phase explanations: While the literature outlines the three fundamental phases of transformative learning, it would be beneficial to provide more context for each phase. Specifically, the second phase could be clarified, as it currently combines self-reflection and critical assessment of different assumptions, making it difficult to distinguish between the two aspects.

 

--- We clarified and updated the second. Please see lines 102-109 on page 3.

 

Literature review 

Connection to the study: While the literature review provides relevant background information, it would be helpful to explicitly connect the discussed concepts to the study's objectives or research questions. For instance, the authors could emphasize the role of Generation Z in the context of fashion sustainability and how their knowledge and perceptions could impact the industry's sustainability practices.

 

--- Thank you so much for the suggestion. We explained more about Gen Z consumers related to fashion sustainability and how knowledge may affect industries’ sustainability practices. Please see the second paragraph of the 3.2 section of the literature review on page 4.

 

Further exploration of social aspects: The passage briefly mentions the challenges associated with defining and addressing the social aspects of sustainability. The authors could expand upon this by discussing potential solutions or strategies to overcome these challenges within the fashion industry. This could help to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the complexities of sustainability in the fashion context.

 

--- Thank you so much for the comment. We added more explanation about the social aspect of sustainability in lines 174-178 on page 4. 

 

4. Materials and Methods

Participant recruitment: The authors mention the use of cloud-based participant management software from Southwestern University's large participant pool. It would be helpful to provide additional information on the recruitment process, such as the inclusion and exclusion criteria used for selecting participants and the total number of potential participants in the pool.

 

--- We added more information about participant recruitment in lines 217-223 on page 5.

 

Focus group procedure: While the semi-structured format of the questions is mentioned, it would be useful to provide more context on how the focus groups were conducted. For example, the authors could describe the role of the facilitator, the setting, and any measures taken to ensure a comfortable and open discussion environment for participants.

 

--- We updated the information; please see lines 228-242 on page 5.

 

Data analysis details: The authors briefly describe the thematic analysis technique used for data interpretation. It would be helpful to provide more information on the steps taken during the analysis, such as the process of code generation, the identification of emerging themes, and any measures used to ensure the trustworthiness of the analysis (e.g., member checking, researcher reflexivity).

 

--- Thank you for the comment. We added more detailed information about our data analysis process in lines 260-267 on page 6.

 

Demographic information presentation: The authors mention the demographic information of the participants, but it might be more effective to present this information in a table format for clarity and easier visualization.

 

--- The demographic information is included in Table 1.  

 

5. Results

Some grammatical errors and sentence structures could be revised to enhance readability and clarity. For example, "The overall interpretation based on the thematic analysis method occurred, and five key themes emerged." could be rephrased to "Based on the thematic analysis, five key themes emerged."

 

--- Thank you so much for pointing out this. We reviewed and modified the grammatical errors.

 

The connection between the themes and the phases of transformative learning theory could be explained more explicitly. While the authors mention the resemblance between the themes and some phases of the theory, they do not delve deeper into this connection and how it might contribute to a better understanding of the participants' perceptions and experiences.

 

The authors could provide more information on the demographics of the participants, such as their socioeconomic background, educational level, or any other factors that might have influenced their perceptions and experiences regarding sustainability in the fashion industry. This would help contextualize the findings and provide a more comprehensive understanding of the perspectives of Generation Z.

 

 --- Thank you for the valuable comment. That would definitely be an excellent research direction we could explore further. We included that further research about sustainability perception and behavior is needed based on socioeconomic background and educational level. See lines 551-554 on page 12.

 

The recommendations derived from the findings, such as improving communication about sustainable practices, supporting small local businesses, and working collaboratively with larger organizations, could be summarized and discussed in a separate section. This would make it easier for readers to understand the practical implications of the study and the potential steps that could be taken to address the challenges and opportunities identified by the participants.

 

--- We added more practical implications as suggested. Please see the managerial implication section on page 12.

 

Discussion and Conclusion"

This section provides a clear and concise summary of the study's findings, relating them to the Triple Bottom Line theory and Mezirow's transformative learning theory. The authors have identified key themes that emerged from the focus group discussions, such as Short-Sighted Actions, Disseminating the story, Filling the Information Gap, Normalizing Customer Activism, and Challenging But Not Impossible. These themes are well-supported by quotes from the focus group participants.

 

One notable aspect of the study is the observation that participants' awareness of sustainability expanded from environmental concerns to social and economic aspects after receiving education on the Triple Bottom Line theory. This shift in perception shows the potential for improving consumers' understanding of sustainability through targeted educational efforts.

 

 --- Thank you so much for the positive feedback.

 

The conclusion highlights the importance of continuous transformation in learning and the significant impact this can have on achieving a balance among the three aspects of sustainability. Furthermore, it emphasizes the potential influence of Gen Y and Z consumers, considering their large market size.

 

--- Thank you so much for providing a section-wise detailed review. We considered the suggestions given below.

 

Some minor suggestions for improvement include:

The authors could briefly discuss the implications of their findings for fashion companies and policymakers in promoting sustainable practices.

 

--- Thank you so much for the suggestion. We updated some implications for fashion companies in promoting sustainable practices among the generations. Please see the managerial implications on page 12.

 

The limitations of the study, such as the predominantly Caucasian and female sample, could be acknowledged, and recommendations for future research could be provided.

 

--- Thank you so much. We updated this information in lines 547-548 on page 12.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Some of the things that can be input in this manuscript include:

1. Reference Management, this article uses IEEE style, and in presentation this style usually starts from [1] to the last, but in this text it starts with reference number [28], please improve reference management.

2. The Introduction section adds data and GAP theory which strengthens the urgency of this research being carried out

3. Table 2 please be presented in a standard way

4. We recommend that the Conclusion section be separated from the discussion section.

5. If the manuscript uses the IEEE Style, then the reference should also use the same style, not using the Vancover Style.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

In general, English is presented well, it's just that there are a few sentences that are ambiguous in the use of English, especially the use and placement of words, specifically I marked the text directly

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

 

Thank you so much for your valuable feedback on this manuscript. We addressed the comments and updated them below.

 

Some of the things that can be input in this manuscript include:

1. Reference Management, this article uses IEEE style, and in presentation this style usually starts from [1] to the last, but in this text it starts with reference number [28], please improve reference management.

 

--- Thank you so much. We changed the order of references as commented.

 

2. The Introduction section adds data and GAP theory which strengthens the urgency of this research being carried out

 

--- We added a few more sentences to explain the gap in the literature and the need for this study. See lines 61-65 on page 2.

 

3. Table 2 please be presented in a standard way

 

--- Table 2 has been revised. Please let us know if you think it should in another specific format. Thank you.

 

4. We recommend that the Conclusion section be separated from the discussion section.

 

--- Thank you so much. We separated the conclusion section from the discussion and added a conclusion in section 9. Please see page 13.

 

5. If the manuscript uses the IEEE Style, then the reference should also use the same style, not using the Vancover Style.

 

--- Thank you so much. We changed the references using the same reference style. We used the Vancouver style and made it consistent, but please let us know if we need to change it to a certain style to be consistent in another way.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

The presented research is relevant and interesting. the designated study has a representative sample. However, the study and publication will look much more interesting if the authors of the derivation describe the goals of the study, show what is the scientific significance of the article, what was the delay component of the study, when the authors say that 191 questions were asked by the respondent. Therefore, in the methodology section, I would like to see blocks and directions of questions that took place in the framework of interviews and questionnaires. The results of the study show a strong connection between indicators of the sustainability of the development of society and fashion trends. In addition, it would be useful to mark the conclusions as applied. where we can use the obtained results And in what area. How can we apply the results obtained for some management decisions and where. very important. In addition, the methodology of the study should have shown the period of the study, by what criteria the respondents were recruited for the survey. point What criteria were used by the authors when recruiting respondents. in addition, it would be interesting if the authors of the derivation showed more than such why they began to conduct this study, to whom these studies are interesting. in the discussion part of the study, it was necessary to show who these studies have already conducted similar ones, what results they got, how your results differ from their results

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The presented research is relevant and interesting. the designated study has a representative sample.

However, the study and publication will look much more interesting if the authors of the derivation describe the goals of the study, show what is the scientific significance of the article, what was the delay component of the study, when the authors say that 191 questions were asked by the respondent. Therefore, in the methodology section, I would like to see blocks and directions of questions that took place in the framework of interviews and questionnaires.

 

--- Thank you so much. We modified and added a more visual description of the study design. Please see the section 4.1 on page 5 and Figure 1.

 

The results of the study show a strong connection between indicators of the sustainability of the development of society and fashion trends. In addition, it would be useful to mark the conclusions as applied. where we can use the obtained results And in what area. How can we apply the results obtained for some management decisions and where. very important.

 

In addition, the methodology of the study should have shown the period of the study, by what criteria the respondents were recruited for the survey. point What criteria were used by the authors when recruiting respondents. in addition, it would be interesting if the authors of the derivation showed more than such why they began to conduct this study, to whom these studies are interesting.

 

--- Thank you so much. We wanted to recruit only Generation Z participants regardless of their major, discipline, gender, and race, among others. We updated this information in lines 217-223.  We also included this as a future research direction.  

In the discussion part of the study, it was necessary to show who these studies have already conducted similar ones, what results they got, how your results differ from their results.

 

--- We connected the discussion of our findings related to the findings of previous literature. Please see the yellow highlights in the discussion section. Thank you.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 4 Report

This article presents relevant research that is within the scope of the Sustainability journal. 

 

It provides interesting findings regarding the thematic analysis conducted on the knowledge and perception of generation Z about apparel and textile sustainability and the limitations of the study are well discussed.

 

However, I do have a concern regarding the following.

 

Two of the article’s authors have a published Conference Paper with similar theme and the title:  Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Apparel Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis (Reference 46 - doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12149) and the submitted paper, title: Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Fashion Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis.

 

My concerns are regarding the similarity of the findings. The five themes that emerge from the research are the same (in the conference paper they were briefly described), and some parts of the text in the Discussion and Implications of the conference paper are repeated in the Discussion and Conclusion of the submitted paper. Additionally, the conference paper is referenced in the Theoretical Background (Line 80 Reference 46) but it is not discussed as a part of the research or in the results.

 

It is my opinion that in its current form the paper should not be accepted. 

 

Other comments:

 

Section 3.2 Fashion and Sustainability of the Literature Review lack key concepts of the thematic discussed, namely overconsumption and fast fashion as well as more recent references.

 

In Line 189 of the Section 4.1 Research Design, Materials and Methods chapter, the authors present reference [3] from 2006 to support the selection of the age group. A great number of recent references report Generation Z and Millenials’ interest in the theme. I would suggest to review.

 

Section 4.2. Data Analysis, what was the software used and how the codes were generated from the data?

 

Line 448-9: “…all the participants belong to both Gen Y and Z” but in the Introduction and Materials and Methods it is defined Gen Z for this study focus.

Suggestion to review the use of ‘Transformative Learning Theory’ in expanded form throughout the text, after its abbreviation in Line 71, page 2.

Author Response

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

This article presents relevant research that is within the scope of the Sustainability journal. 

 

It provides interesting findings regarding the thematic analysis conducted on the knowledge and perception of generation Z about apparel and textile sustainability and the limitations of the study are well discussed.

 

However, I do have a concern regarding the following.

 

Two of the article’s authors have a published Conference Paper with similar theme and the title:  Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Apparel Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis (Reference 46 - doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12149) and the submitted paper, title: Transformative Learning Connected to the Triple Bottom Line of Fashion Business Sustainability: A Thematic Analysis.

 

--- Thank you for the comment. The abstract presented at the conference was a part of the entire study. This manuscript has more in-depth information. We extended our work, and a small portion was submitted to ITAA. Furthermore, the abstracts submitted to the ITAA conference can be (and are encouraged to be) submitted to the journal publication after the presentation. We added more in-depth information and changed the topic to reduce the redundancy between the abstract and the paper. Please let us know if you think we need to update more on this paper. We also cited the abstract.

 

My concerns are regarding the similarity of the findings. The five themes that emerge from the research are the same (in the conference paper they were briefly described), and some parts of the text in the Discussion and Implications of the conference paper are repeated in the Discussion and Conclusion of the submitted paper. Additionally, the conference paper is referenced in the Theoretical Background (Line 80 Reference 46) but it is not discussed as a part of the research or in the results. It is my opinion that in its current form the paper should not be accepted. 

 

--- Thank you for the comment. A small portion of the paper is submitted for the conference presentation, and this paper is developed fully based on the preliminary findings from it. Also, ITAA said, “Studies must not have been submitted to a conference or journal at the time of submission,” So the authors of ITAA often submit the full version of the manuscript after the abstract is submitted and presented at the conference. We added more in-depth information and changed the topic to reduce the redundancy between the abstract and the paper. Please let us know if you think we need to update more on this paper.

 

Other comments:

 

Section 3.2 Fashion and Sustainability of the Literature Review lack key concepts of the thematic discussed, namely overconsumption and fast fashion as well as more recent references.

 

--- Thank you. We added more information in section 3.2 as suggested.

 

In Line 189 of the Section 4.1 Research Design, Materials and Methods chapter, the authors present reference [3] from 2006 to support the selection of the age group. A great number of recent references report Generation Z and Millenials’ interest in the theme. I would suggest to review.

 

--- Thank you. We added the recent reference to support the important of this age group to study.

 

Section 4.2. Data Analysis, what was the software used and how the codes were generated from the data?

 

--- We did not use any software. However, the authors of this article had several proposed themes, which were crossmatched, and ended up proposing the final themes discussed in the article. We also updated our 4.2. section with more clarity.

 

Line 448-9: “…all the participants belong to both Gen Y and Z” but in the Introduction and Materials and Methods it is defined Gen Z for this study focus.

 

--- Thank you. We are sorry about this undesired mismatch. We updated it accordingly. We also updated the reference to the latest.

 

Suggestion to review the use of ‘Transformative Learning Theory’ in expanded form throughout the text, after its abbreviation in Line 71, page 2.

 

--- Thank you so much. We updated the full Transformative Learning Theory instead of using its short form in the entire manuscript on page 2. 

 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have fulfilled most of my concerns. 

The revised manuscript can be considered for publication. 

Reviewer 4 Report

The revised article is improved.