International Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies

ISSN(print): 2770-2782, ISSN(online): 2770-2790

Volume 04 Issue 04 April 2024
DOI: [Link] Impact Factor: 6.759
Page No : 303-307

Framework for Understanding Factors Influencing Clothing Selection

Arubayi, D. O. (Ph.D.)1*, Awowede, M. A. (Ph.D.)2, Agadagba, J. E.3
1,2,3
Home Economics Education Unit, Department of Vocational Education, Faculty of Education, P.M.B. 1, Delta State
University, Abraka

ABSTRACT Published Online: 23 April, 2024

Clothing selection is a product of social construction that defines what people choose to wear. The
choice of what, how, and when to select what individuals, wear is based on the perception that
surrounds their reality. For the purpose of this research work, factors influencing clothing selection
have been organized into a framework to facilitate easier understanding. The factors influencing
clothing selection have been arranged into a logical system of concepts grouped into four categories:
Social/Psychological, Economic, Environmental, and Physiological Factors. A detailed deconstruction
of each of these factors has been further conceptualized into smaller concepts and discussed in a
nuanced context. Under the Social/Psychological factors are concepts such as culture, gender,
occupation, personality, religion, socio-status, and fashion. Economic factors evaluated are concepts
such as the Economic well-being of a Nation (GDP), the Economic status of individuals, Economic
environment (availability of technology and raw materials and buying behavior). Environmental KEYWORDS:
factors such as Location (Urban/Rural), Climatic conditions, protection from extreme weather Economic Factors,
conditions, and unconventional places like deep seas, and space were examined. Lastly, the Environmental
physiological factors such as age, health condition, and figure were also evaluated. Developing a Factors,
conceptual framework for understanding clothing selection is apt in filling the gap in Literature since Social/Psychological
most research works on factors influencing clothing selection may not have been organized into a Factors, Physiological
framework for clothing selection, whether intrinsically or extrinsically motivated. Factors

1. INTRODUCTION
Thoughts or concepts are organized and structured in such a Arubayi (2019) opined that regardless of what influences our
way as to facilitate good understanding. Arranging clothing choice of clothes, clothing selection is a skill that can be
factors into a logical system of concepts will simplify learned or acquired through careful training and practice.
understanding. Clothing is one of the basic fundamental The act of careful selection of clothing acquired
needs of man, what we wear and how we select what to wear through training should be compatible with an individual’s
are motivated by some intrinsic or extrinsic factors. From the Social/Psychological, Economic, Environmental, and
intrinsic motivation, the clothes selected may range from Psychological factors. For proper understanding, this paper
one’s religious belief systems, which dictate the morality of will be conceptualized in a more nuanced context to provide
what could be worn by an individual, to personal a detailed deconstruction of the factors that influence people’s
interpretation about clothes that an individual can wear per choice of how they select what they wear. Factors influencing
time, for an occasion, or in a context. On the other hand, clothing selection is not a new area of discourse, however,
extrinsic motivating factors that determine what people wear, there is a dearth of literature on the framework for
may range from celebrity, culture, mass and social media understanding factors that influence clothing selection. Thus,
influence, economic status of an individual among others. the development of this framework facilitates understanding.
Corresponding Author: Arubayi, D. O. The framework for understanding clothing selection will be
*Cite this Article: Arubayi, D. O.*, Awowede, M.A., discussed under Social/Psychological, Economical,
Agadagba, J. E.(2024). Framework for Understanding Environmental, and Physiological factors. This is captured in
Factors Influencing Clothing Selection. International Figure 1 as the framework for understanding clothing
Journal of Social Science and Education Research Studies, selection.
4(4), 303-307

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Arubayi, D. [Link] al, Framework for Understanding Factors Influencing Clothing Selection
occasion, personality, social status, gender, religion, and
fashion.
Culture is a socio-psychological factor that influences
clothing selection. Arubayi (2019) defined culture as shared
patterns of behavior, interactions, cognitive conduct, and
understanding of what is learned by socialization. Culture
influences the development of styles that are unique to a
particular group of people and the way they dress which is
acceptable to the norms and beliefs of the people. For
instance, in Nigeria, there are three major ethnic groups:
Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa/Fulani. These groups of people
dress according to their cultural background. The influence of
culture on clothing selection cannot be overemphasized.
Figure 1: Framework for understanding clothing Based on the history and traditions of the different groups that
selection are represented in Nigeria, Oyedeji (2016) opined that there
are general belief systems that strive to uphold modesty.
II. REVIEW ON THE FRAMEWORK FOR Modesty in clothing as Adebisi & Abdulsalam (2018)
UNDERSTANDING CLOTHING SELECTION contends, is not universal in all cultures, but rather subjective.
Social/Psychological Factors For instance, wearing a “swimsuit” as beach wear will be
Social/Psychological factors are embedded aspect of adjudged as “modest” in Western cultures, while it will be
consumer behavior that reinforces clothing selection. adjudged as “immodest” in some African cultures. However,
Clothing is seen as a way of seeking individuality and the there has been a generational disconnect between what is
adornment of the body to display and emphasize social status. modest to the older generation whose cultural belief systems
Weber (2008) envisions clothing selection as a product of are “cast on iron”, to the present generation whose ideology
social construction that defines what people choose to wear on what modesty is, has been influenced by Western cultural
and the perceptions that surround this reality. He further norms under the influence of social media.
contends that the social construction that determines what Apart from culture, occupation is another factor that
people select to wear is defined by their identity, values, influences clothing selection. The job a person does
personality, occasion, occupation, culture, moods, and determines what they wear. Hence, Aldrich (2008) opined
attitude. Ikem (2015) stated that the choice of clothing people that it is easy to identify different professionals by what they
make provides a medium of self-expression that gives clues wear. For instance, a Nurse in her uniform, a Medical Doctor
about an individual’s cultural heritage and social standing. in an overall white coat, and a Lawyer in a black suit, white
Given that, the social factors that determine the clothing shirt, and wig. The Police, Army, School children, Hawkers,
choices people make are embedded in their belief systems, and even Mechanics select clothing items based on the job
which is an aspect of human psychological thinking. The they do.
assertation by Asare, Ibrahim, and Kwesi (2016) that there is Another factor that influences clothing selection is occasion.
a thin line between Social and Psychological factors, thus, Arubayi (2019) opined that the occasion or an event
thinking and knowledge influence a person’s clothing choice. determines what to select, whether formal or informal,
Asare et al (2016) are of the opinion that motivation, traditional or Western. Indeed, different occasions and events
perception, learning, belief, and attitude are psychological require an appropriate selection of clothing items to suit the
factors that affect clothing selection. Motivation for instance, event or occasion. For instance, special occasions like
whether intrinsically motivated by a person’s psychological marriages; traditional/church/court weddings, dinner/cocktail
thinking and belief system or extrinsically motivated by parties, graduation, sports, and burial ceremonies require
social-cultural and environmentally specific factors, is a different types of clothing. Importantly, the clothes selected
propelling force that enables individuals to make decisions should be suitable for various occasions whether formal,
based on what they have learned and their perception of an casual, sports, church, or parties.
event. Perception has to do with the ability to see, hear, or Another factor that influences clothing selection is
become aware of how something is understood. No wonder, personality. Personality as a psychological factor is not fixed
Thompson and Vanden Berg (2007) explained that the or static, but it is subjective and ever-changing to fit the
perception of an individual about themselves determines their demands and changes in the environment. Personality is the
self-worth, self-image, self-esteem, and physical sum of the behavioral pattern of an individual and it plays a
attractiveness which motivates clothing selection. Debatably, big role in clothing selection as it represents an individual’s
a person’s feeling about self-worth is largely the result of his character and a form of self-expression. No wonder, Arubayi
psychological setup. Other social and psychological factors (2021) opined that the choice of clothes people wear “reveals”
that influence clothing selection include; culture, occupation, or “tells” about their personalities, whether the individual is

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Arubayi, D. [Link] al, Framework for Understanding Factors Influencing Clothing Selection
an “extrovert” or an “introvert”. By implication, the clothes Apart from Gender, Fashion is another Socio-Psychological
people select speak a lot about who they are. To support this factor of importance. Fashion can be described as a popular
opinion, Khare and Rakesh (2010) stated that the clothes trend in dresses, accessories, or ornaments. Arubayi (2021)
people wear are a powerful signal that projects a self-image described fashion as a stylish behavioral pattern or attitude
of what they want to display. Invariably, clothing choice can toward popular trends. People are called “fashionable” when
affect self-image and create an impression that conveys they follow the particular or latest trends in color, shapes, or
messages about the personality types of an individual. dress designs. There are also people who follow fashion
Apart from Personality, Religion is another blindly and are regarded as “fashion faddists”. Singh (2011)
Social/Psychological factor. Religion is a social structure that stated that it is common for people to express their identity
reflects people’s belief systems and their relationships with through fashion as a means of making a personal statement in
the supernatural. Religion provides the moral barometer of selecting trendy clothes. The cost of fashion is determined by
the “dos and don’ts” of dressing and plays a significant role the economic status of the individual and this is another factor
in the clothing selection of people in any society. This could that influences clothing selection.
be seen in the conservative Muslim countries of the Middle
East and Asia, and the Liberal countries like the US and Economic factors
Europe in the West. In many societies as opined by Lisa and Economic factors determine the clothing item selected, when
Fornara (2018), religious laws regulate personal clothing the per capita income of an individual or nation is high, the
choice, which may permit only an elite class to wear certain tendency to spend more on clothing is high. When the
prestigious garments. For example, in the Christian Religion, economic status of an individual improves, the desire to select
a Bishop’s robe with special designs can only be worn by a clothing items to match the economic prowess increases.
Bishop and these clothes are different from those worn by the Consequently, individuals from wealthy families tend to
priest from the same religious convents. Similarly, Al- spend more money on clothing and luxury items as compared
matawa (2013) stated that, in the Muslim religion, the clothes to individuals from low-income families (Arubayi, 2019).
the chief Imam wears are different from the clothes worn by There are important economic components that influence
the average Muslim cleric. Religion has a strong influence on clothing selection, such as; the economic well-being of a
what people wear. No matter the religion, whether Nation which is measured by the Gross Domestic Product
Christianity, Islam, Traditional, or other forms of religion, the (GDP) and multi-dimensional Poverty Index, the availability
clothes selected by an individual are defined by the restriction and accessibility to technology (like social media, internet,
and freedom permitted by the religion. cable TV), raw materials and technological knowledge can
Another Social/Psychological factor that influences clothing influence the cost of production, cost of goods and services,
selection is Social Status. One of the strong reasons for the thus inhibiting the buying and spending behavior of an
choice of clothes is to show or display social status. individual, which may lead to impulsive buying. On the other
Commonly, men or women of both sexes display status hand, where per capita income increases, the tendency to
through their choice or selection of designer bags, shoes, spend more money on numerous brands, and high-quality
suits, and ties among others. Oyedeji (2016) stated that the clothing items increases.
style of clothing worn by Kings and Queens depicts Royalty
and Class. In Africa, among the Hausa community, members Environmental Factors
of the ruling aristocracy wear large turbans in layers of Apart from Socio/psychological and Economic factors,
several gowns made from expensive imported fabrics to Environmental Factors such as climatic conditions, and
distinguish them from ordinary people whereas the ruling location among others influence clothing selection.
class in the Igbo tribe wears a traditional attire usually called Environmental factors as enumerated by Okonmah, Tiamiyu
the “Isiagu”. A type of soft shirt with patterns that are mostly & Akande (2020) are climatic conditions that determine what
gold or red. Apart from Social Status, another influencing individuals wear to suit the weather conditions. During the
factor is Gender. rainy seasons, clothes are worn to protect the body against
Gender as one of the determinants for clothing selection is a cold weather conditions. When the weather is hot, individuals
product of culture, religion, and biology. Historical and select absorbent clothing items that provide room for comfort.
scientific research suggested that gender biologically On the contrary, in Temperate regions where the weather is
determines the human categorization of being male or female. very cold, individuals select clothes that will protect the body
Egun (2008) described Gender as a psychological experience against harsh weather conditions in unconventional places.
of being male or female. There are different clothes for Location is another environmental factor of importance.
different genders. Although, in some cultures as opined by The location of a person can be determined by many factors
Advantidon & Gasouka, (2013) in Indonesia, parts of West that include, but are not limited to place of birth, residence,
Africa, and Scotland, men wore articles of clothing that rural or urban area, or a place determined by its weather (cold
closely resemble a skirt worn by women. geographical location like the Arctic or a hot tropical region
like Nigeria). Aguif and Irfan (2020) opined that the area and

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place a person lives, determine the pattern, shape, and style Empirical studies are also recommended to assess the factors
of clothes selected. They further stated that the choice of influencing clothing selection among different population
clothes selected by individuals in an urban location is groups.
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