https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0854-8199
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Abstract
Sustainability is an urgent topic for the global fashion system’s full evolution, although coping with it is not a simple task because of the extensive attention, discussions, and media coverage that sustainability in the fashion industry has received in recent years. This article uncovers common themes, provides a holistic perspective, and offers insights into sustainability from an entrepreneurial standpoint, by investigating the collaborative approaches implemented by five cultural and creative industry (CCI) players that are recognized globally for their strong proactivity in developing sustainable practices. Through semi-structured interviews with these experts, this contribution takes advantage of the knowledge, first-hand experience, and lessons learned from frontrunners in the field, a privileged perspective to observe sustainability’s multifaceted and heterogeneous nature. The insights presented in this article illustrate the interviewees’ perceptions and understanding of the challenges, coping strategies, and factors at play in the process of pursuing sustainable practices in association with other system players. Finally, this work reflects on the tensions arising between the perceived urgency of radical change and the global fashion system’s intrinsic disconnection and complexity. It prompts consideration of the pivotal role that networks can assume within this context and underscores the critical necessity of fostering robust and substantive dialogue between bottom-up innovative sustainable practices and top-down regulatory frameworks.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1 The interviews with Italian Artisan and The Fabricant were held in English while those with ACBC, CIRCLE project partners, and Fulgar were conducted in Italian.
2 In this context, kilometer zero refers to the concept of sourcing materials and production processes within a close geographic radius.
3 B Corp certification is a model gaining recognition as a guarantee that a company upholds exceptional standards of social and environmental performance, corporate responsibility, and public transparency while striving to balance both profit and purpose (Diez-Busto, Sanchez-Ruiz, and Fernandez-Laviada Citation2021).
4 See, for example, the European Commission’s “A Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age” (Citation2023) based on the establishment of a streamlined regulatory framework, ensuring easier access to adequate funding, fostering the development of skills, and promoting open trade for supply-chain resilience.