Eckert, Claudia and Crommentuijn-Marsh, Philippa and Black, Sandy (2022) The role of networks in supporting micro- and small-sized sustainable fashion businesses. Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 18 (1). pp. 544-559.
Type of Research: | Article |
---|---|
Creators: | Eckert, Claudia and Crommentuijn-Marsh, Philippa and Black, Sandy |
Description: | Micro- and small-sized sustainable fashion businesses benefit greatly from their formal and informal networks which provide a wide variety of support and services. This exploratory study reports on the findings of a UK-based research project that investigated 27 firms in this category. We focus on four case studies comprising two designers running their own labels and two product developers who support other designers. Our analysis maps the net- works of these micro- and small-sized sustainable fashion businesses. Taking an approach informed by actor-network theory (ANT), we describe human, organizational, and social media actors in formal and informal networks. We show how networks are formed and extended through supply-chain relationships, professional networks, and the serendipity of personal and online contacts. Focusing on informal networks, the article also discusses the models of working and the role that geographical (or physical) and cognitive proximity plays. The networks of sustainable businesses particularly depend on trust and shared values and help designers to understand and increase their sustainable practices. |
Official Website: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/15487733.2022.2097772 |
Keywords/subjects not otherwise listed: | Sustainable fashion businesses; networks; collaboration |
Your affiliations with UAL: | Colleges > London College of Fashion |
Date: | August 2022 |
Funders: | Arts & Humanities Research Council |
Digital Object Identifier: | 0.1080/15487733.2022.2097772 |
Date Deposited: | 30 Aug 2022 11:09 |
Last Modified: | 30 Aug 2022 11:09 |
Item ID: | 18776 |
URI: | https://ualresearchonline.arts.ac.uk/id/eprint/18776 |
Repository Staff Only: item control page