AN ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Brigitte Gaal Cluver for ...

Data show that consumers’ clothing inventories can be categorized
accordingly: active, permanent inactive, temporary inactive, invisible inactive, and
transitional inactive. Within permanent inactive inventories were items that informants
believed they would never dispose; such items often symbolized various connections
and/or held hedonic value. Within temporary inactive inventories were items that
informants believed they would eventually dispose; such items were often stored
because informants were waiting to find future opportunities to use the items or the
best disposal outlets. Occasionally, clothing items were invisible to informants, made
so either unintentionally or intentionally. Clothing items within transitional inactive
inventories were those items that informants had taken psychological and behavioral
steps towards disposing of, yet still retained possession. Data collected were used to
develop a Consumer Clothing Inventory Management Model. The model explains
what causes consumers to store versus dispose of inactive clothing items and
provides direction regarding the identification of ways to encourage consumers to
pass inactive items on to others who can use them.