Wardrobe Management Apps and Their Unintended Benefits for Fashion Sustainability and Well-Being: Insights from User Reviews

Gigi Jiang and Lisa Macintyre ()
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Gigi Jiang: School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University Scottish Borders Campus, Nether Road, Galashiels TD1 3HF, UK
Lisa Macintyre: School of Textiles and Design, Heriot-Watt University Scottish Borders Campus, Nether Road, Galashiels TD1 3HF, UK

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 9, 1-22

Abstract: Global clothing production and waste continues to increase while garment utilisation is decreasing. Many consumers wear only a fraction of the clothing they own, often forgetting or overlooking items already in their wardrobes. This disconnection from existing garments encourages unnecessary purchases and contributes to the environmental and psychological burden of fashion overconsumption. The purpose of this study was to explore the role of wardrobe management apps (WMAs) and their potential for reducing fashion overconsumption. This paper has two core aims: first, to assess how WMAs contribute to sustainability through organisation, extended use, and behavioural change, and second, to examine their emotional and practical benefits for users. A content analysis of 27 WMAs was conducted alongside a thematic analysis of all 5953 user reviews from Apple and Google Play stores. Our analysis showed that 470 users reported behavioural shifts related to reduced overconsumption and increased garment utilisation, while a further 210 users described psychological benefits such as improved mental clarity and reduced anxiety. These results demonstrate the potential of WMAs to support more sustainable fashion habits and enhanced consumer well-being, offering a digital means to promote responsible consumption and align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 12.

Keywords: fashion sustainability; digital tools; consumer well-being; wardrobe management apps; behavioural change; overconsumption; circular fashion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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