Assessment of family clothing acquisition and maintenance practices among home-makers in Owerri Municipal

Abstract

Family clothing acquisition and maintenance, especially among homemakers, has gained attention due to excessive clothing purchases influenced by societal pressures, advertising, and consumer habits (Williams, 2021). Factors like family values, culture, and economic status also play a role (Patwary, 2023). The sustainability of clothing depends on homemakers' maintenance practices (Magure & Fashy, 2023). The study assesses family clothing acquisition and maintenance in Owerri Municipal, focusing on factors influencing purchases, available maintenance tools, acquisition methods, and strategies to improve maintenance practices (Thompson, 2020).

Methodology

Descriptive survey design was adopted. A sample size of 225 homemakers was drawn from population of 64,445 homemakers, using the purposive sampling technique. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency and simple percentage.

Results

The result showed various factors influencing family clothing acquisition and maintenance practices among homemakers in Owerri Municipal as they agreed that finance, weather, personality, occupation, cost, and prices of clothes determine the acquisition of family clothing and maintenance practices among home makers. Acquisition of clothes by homemakers has pointed towards a direction that suggests a need to responsibly consume apparel for aims of environmental sustainability. Essential tools and equipment required for effective family clothing maintenance include washing machines, sewing machines, wardrobes, and cupboards for the proper storage of laundered garments (Smith & Johnson, 2020). These tools play a vital role in preserving the quality of clothing and ensuring its longevity. Other forms of clothing acquisition among homemakers in Owerri Municipal Council include direct purchase, inherited clothing materials from households, gifts from households among others.  Positive ways of enhancing clothing maintenance practices among homemakers include mending, renovation, remodeling of old garments and proper utilization of garment care labels for provision of basic information on clothing maintenance to elongate the life span of the garment.

Conclusion

The study therefore concluded that advertisement strategies on garment products such as providing positive role models for homemakers in relation to clothing acquisition and maintenance skills  are adopted as a way of promoting family clothing acquisition, lengthen wear life of clothes and reduce waste among homemakers in Owerri Municipal. Hence, there is need to emphasize more on effective ways of assessing clothing acquisition and maintenance practices of homemakers while teaching students laundry processes and clothing renovation for greater nation impact.

Recommendation

Based on the findings, the study recommends that homemakers in Owerri Municipal Council be taught adequate skills in various clothing maintenance procedures such as clothing renovation, laundry, ironing, pressing and storage. Strict adherence to Home Economics content on clothing and textiles as it will promote and enhance the assessment of clothing acquisition and maintenance practices among individuals and homemakers in Owerri Municipal Council, Imo State, South-East Nigeria.