Management of dormant wardrobe among Female Youth of Winneba (Age 20-40)

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the management of dormant wardrobe among the female youth of Winneba. Responses from three hundred and sixty female youth, 20- 40 years of age, who were members of the six congregations of the Methodist church in Winneba, were collected using a close ended questionnaire. They were all female youth of the six Methodist churches in Winneba and were selected based on their interest in changing clothes for almost every occasion which made the researcher wonder where they will keep all the clothes after some years and also to know if the respondents keep dormant wardrobe. The first objective was to examine the extent to which they keep dormant wardrobe, then to also find out the reasons for keeping dormant wardrobe, the effect of keeping these dormant wardrobes and finally to find out ways they manage their dormant wardrobe. The research instrument underwent pilot testing with female educators of Winneba Secondary School aged between 20 and 40 years in order to verify its validity and reliability. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, including mean and percentage usage. The investigation revealed that a significant proportion of young women in Winneba strongly endorse the practice of keeping items for specific events or occasions, such as dinner parties, while also acknowledging possession of clothing not worn for over a year. To find out why the female youth keep dormant clothes it was established that most of the respondents agreed to the fact that the nature of work demands more clothes. Always want to keep a “just in case” or as a back-up clothes and Sentimental reason (clothes that reminds you of past activities or ceremonies). The respondents again established by strongly agreeing that the effect of keeping dormant wardrobe was untidy room, and further agreed on difficulty in selecting clothes because of the number and time consuming (searching for clothes to wear). For ways by which the female youth manage their dormant wardrobe most of the respondents agreed on throwing away their wardrobe but least agreed on donation as a way of managing their dormant wardrobe. The researcher recommends that the female youth should be educated on the different ways of managing their dormant clothes in order not to experience the associated effects. Example having loads of out of fashion, unfitting or clothes that needs renovation in your room coursing untidy rooms which may lead to hoarding disorder. Throwing away of clothes should be discouraged because it adds to the landfill but rather renovated/remodelled to give them a renewed life. Renovation and remodelling centres should be established by the Ghana dressmaker’s association because most dressmakers do not want to waste time on old articles. This will go a long way to prevent the keeping of dormant clothes.