january - December 2024

THE JOYFUL CLOSET CHALLENGE

Consumption Challenge

Welcome! The Joyful Closet is a transformative challenge designed to revolutionize your relationship with fashion and empower you to make mindful and conscious choices with clothes. Over the course of this program, you will embark on a journey of self-discovery, learn practical strategies, and develop a new relationship with your wardrobe.

BE YOU.

BE MINDFUL.

CHALLENGE FORMAT

“The Joyful Closet Consumption Challenge” is a year-long experiment, backed by a free comprehensive online system to support you that includes instructional videos, interactive discussion forums, practical exercises, and curated resources. The goal of the challenge is to improve your connection to your clothes, rethink consumption patterns towards more conscious options, and have fun doing it! Participants will have access to a supportive online community to share experiences and gain inspiration. The experiment allows flexibility in peer learning, enabling you to progress at your own pace and apply the lessons to your personal journey.

Registration is now closed. Look forward to the report of the study findings in the future!

Active challenge period: January – December 2024

Learning modules and exercises will be released each month, beginning January 1, 2024 and continue until December, 2024.  

cULTIVATE

Gain a deep understanding of your wardrobe by taking stock of the garments you own and exploring the obstacles that hinder decluttering efforts. Develop insights into the reasons behind excessive consumption and create a foundation for change.

DECLUTTER

Learn effective decluttering techniques to extend the use of your garments and minimize your closet space. Discover practical ways to safely dispose of, upcycle, or recycle clothing that no longer serves you. Create a clutter-free environment that brings joy and aligns with your values.

Cherish

Foster a deep appreciation for the garments you already own. Develop a new identity with fewer possessions, cultivate your personal style, navigate social comparison, and promote positive body image. Get attached to your clothes and discover the stories behind them to support wardrobe longevity.

Repair & Maintain

Learn essential skills for repairing and maintaining your garments. Explore basic sewing techniques and creative upcycling projects to breathe new life into damaged or worn-out clothes. Extend the lifespan of your garments, reduce waste, and contribute to a sustainable future.

Understand

Deepen your knowledge of textile materials, including their environmental and social impacts. Make informed choices that align with ethical and fair trade practices. Become a conscious consumer, understanding the stories behind your garments and their impact on the world.

Avoid

Explore strategies to resist impulse shopping, online purchasing, and keeping inactive clothing in your wardrobe. Embrace alternative activities that provide fulfillment and joy, replacing the need for constant shopping. Develop a one-page recommendation filled with inspiring alternatives.

Adopt

Embrace new consumption practices that promote sustainability and reduce your environmental footprint. Explore second-hand fashion as a significant portion of your wardrobe. Discover the benefits of swapping, leasing, renting, and borrowing. Create a wardrobe that aligns with your values and supports a circular economy.

More joy, less stuff

Join our community and make your new year more joyful!

MEET THE JOYFUL TEAM

.

Cosette Joyner Martinez, Ph.D

Associate Professor | Texas State University

Katia Dayan Vladimirova, Ph.D.

Senior Researcher | University of Geneva

Meike Sauerwein, Ph.D.

Lecturer | The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Samira Iran, Ph.D.

Senior researcher | Technische Universität Berlin

THE RESEARCH STUDY

This challenge is being offered and facilitated by four researchers from the International Network on Sustainable Fashion Consumption (sustainablefashionconsumption.org) from universities in Germany, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and the United States. We are conducting a research study to better understand the challenges, motivations, and benefits that clothing consumers experience when they significantly reduce their overall wardrobe size and adhere to strict limits on new clothing acquisition. Your choice to participate in the research study that corresponds to the consumption challenge is voluntary, and you may complete the challenge with or without this participation. When you register as a member of the mindfuldresser.com, you will be prompted to review research consent information and complete a pre-challenge survey. Participants who opt into the research study will be prompted to share their experience and provide feedback about the content provided throughout the challenge. We value the time you are devoting to reducing your closet and hope you will consider sharing your experience with us!

Questions or concerns about this research study may be addressed to Dr. Joyner Martinez in the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at Texas State University by email at cjoynermartinez@txstate.edu

This project has been reviewed and received “exempt” status by the Texas State IRB, application #8920, on 7/26/2023. Pertinent questions or concerns about the research, research participants’ rights, and/or research-related injuries to participants should be directed to the IRB chair, Dr. Denise Gobert  512-716-2652 – (dgobert@txstate.edu)  or to Monica Gonzales,  IRB Regulatory Manager 512-245-2334 –  (meg201@txstate.edu).

What is required of me?

If you agree to participate in this study, you will be asked to:

1) Complete pre-challenge & post challenge surveys

2) Share your experience with challenge in community forum

3) Respond to brief monthly module evaluations

4) Respond to periodic “pulse" queries to the community

Optional post-webinar interview

You may consider participating in a post-challenge interview. Participants who complete this challenge will be invited to participate. More information will be provided about this during the close of the challenge.

Consent information

Your consent will be requested when completing the pre-challenge survey. A complete Research Consent document is available for your review and records here.

TAKE ACTION

RESEARCH

RESEARCH

As my interest in consumer behavior research grew over the next 20 years, I learned about the social and psychological roots of our dress habits and was especially interested in the phenomenon of using others’ perceptions and judgments (which can never truly be concretely known), to shape our appearance and our identity. Find the newest research in this area!
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rESOURCES FOR CLOTHING USERS

RESOURCES

This comprehensive compilation features a wealth of valuable content, including sustainability and mindfulness podcasts, apps, documentaries, books, and website links.
Go To

MINDFUL CLOTHING CONSUMPTION WEBINAR

MINDFUL CLOTHING CONSUMPTION WEBINAR

This webinar series is designed to recalibrate your clothing consumption for a meaningful life with less. Shaped by the concepts of Buddhist economics and minimalism, these webinars explore how the principles of moderation.
Learn More
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