Archives of Current Research International

This study examined the socio-economic and environmental implications of low-cost textiles on consumer behaviour in Lubwe Town, Chifunabuli District, Zambia. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 100 respondents using structured questionnaires. The data were analysed using SPSS and Microsoft Excel through descriptive statistics and a one-sample t-test. The findings showed that income level was the leading socio-economic factor influencing preference for low-cost textiles, identified by 46% of respondents, followed by occupation (18%), education level (14%), family size (12%), and social influence (10%). Respondents strongly agreed that they prioritised price over quality when purchasing textiles (M = 4.41, SD = 0.69) and frequently purchased low-cost textiles because of their availability (M = 4.36, SD = 0.74). Environmental awareness was limited: 42% of respondents reported being not very aware, while 30% reported being unaware of environmental effects associated with low-cost textiles. The main environmental concerns were textile waste accumulation (36%), overfilling of dumping sites (24%), burning of discarded textiles (20%), and littering in public spaces (18%). Awareness campaigns (32%) and affordable sustainable textile options (28%) were the most preferred strategies. The study indicates that affordability strongly shapes textile consumption in Lubwe, while limited environmental awareness and waste-management constraints contribute to concerns associated with textile disposal.