FACTORS INFLUENCING TAKORADI POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS’ CHOICE OF CLOTHING

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to find out the factors influencing Takoradi Polytechnic students’ choice of clothing in the Western Region of Ghana. The study was also interested in types of clothing mostly worn by students on campus and the body parts exposed. Questionnaire and Focus group discussion guide was used. Respondents were chosen at random. The sample for study consisted of 207 students, 104 and 103 students of the Departments of Fashion and Accounting respectively. Seventy seven males and 130 females were involved. Focus group discussion was undertaken using sixty students, fifteen males and fifteen females from each department, summing up to thirty students per department.The study revealed that students’ choice of clothing was mostly influenced by psychological factors with self-fulfilment being the most important. The least factor desired by students was choosing clothing to have warm relationship. Fashion students considered social factors most. Accounting students were more inclined to psychological factors. Casual clothing was the most frequently used on most occasions.Twentysix percent of students expressed the desire to expose body parts like breast. Television was the mostpatronised Media followed by Magazines. The study recommends thatschool authorities should institute orientation programmes to educate students on choice of clothing and the suitable occasions to match.Finallydisparities among individual student’s choice of clothing should be considered in policy making. Students should be encouraged to attend programmes from other departments in order to share common views including the choice of clothing.