Sustainable Supply Chain Management in the Fashion Industry in the Aftermath of COVID-19
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 14307
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
At the end of April 2020, fashion and luxury groups posted their Q1 2020 results, and, not surprisingly, the numbers confirm that even the industry that does not know crisis has capitulated to the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak. Hermes proved to be “the” evergreen luxury, with “just” a single digit reduction in Q1 revenues (−6.5% vs. Q1 2019). Double digit losses were reported for LVMH (−15%) and Kering (−15.4%); Moncler posted −18% after 24 consecutive quarters of double-digit growth. In this scenario, brands are reflecting upon the future of the fashion-luxury industry after the pandemic.
The pandemic outbreak has stimulated deep societal reflections around the main theme of “where is humanity going?” Consumers will be even more aware of sustainability, and brands and product categories that allow for “responsible consumption” will be privileged. Giorgio Armani penned an open letter to WWD in which he challenged the current fast-fashion mindset, saying that he believes in an “approach to the design and making of garments that suggests a way of buying them: to make them last”.
We all hope that Giorgio Armani’s call to action will not fall on deaf ears and that fashion-luxury brands will start to reorganize around a more sustainable and responsible mindset. This will mean that significant changes in the fashion supply chain will take place soon.
One relevant area of research in the fashion supply chain is Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM). Papers are welcome that investigate the changes that will take place in sustainable practices in fashion supply chains:
- Will the new scenario allow for more sustainable business models? Will fashion brands find a way to realign the fashion season with the weather season (which, according to Armani, are now “criminally misaligned”)?
- What is the impact of the digitalization of processes, virtualization of fashion shows, and the heavy adoption of smart working and online meetings?
- Many companies will close down or will have to cut jobs. What would be the effect on the skills of experienced workers? Who will have the responsibility to invest in training new craftspeople?
- Will the crisis impact planned investments in newer and cleaner technologies? Or will governments’ financial support foster more green investments?
- Will there be a new enthusiasm for local production? What would be the impact in terms of reduced logistics? What about excess production—to be heavily discounted let alone burned at the end of the selling season?
- Will SSCM metrics and KPIs be developed and included in corporate goals and public reports and statements?
Prof. Dr. Alessandro Brun
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- Covid-19 outbreak
- supply chain management
- luxury for sustainability
- luxury fashion supply chains
- fashion-luxury industry
- sustainable business models
- newer and cleaner technologies
- green investments
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