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Based on the theoretical frameworks of cognitive dissonance theory, regulatory focus theory, and the compensatory consumer behavior model, we proposed and tested a conceptual model delineating the relationships between COVID-19-stress, commitment to the environment, and intentions for sustainable apparel consumption in terms of intentions for purchasing sustainable apparel and divesting apparel (e.g., handing down or donating apparel). Conducting an online survey (n = 312) with the national millennial population of the U.S., we found that COVID-19-stress positively influenced (i) commitment to the environment and (ii) purchase intentions for sustainable apparel;commitment to the environment positively influenced (iii) purchase intentions for sustainable apparel and (iv) intentions for divesting apparel. Although COVID-19-stress did not influence intentions for divesting apparel directly, commitment to the environment mediated the relationships between COVID-19-stress and both purchase intentions for sustainable apparel and intentions for divesting apparel. We suggest that COVID-19-stress triggered self-regulatory sustainable apparel consumption intentions due to a heightened commitment to the environment to protect the environment amid the pandemic. Based on the findings of our study, we recommend the sustainable apparel brands and marketers promote how sustainable apparel consumption can protect the environment to make the environment and human beings less susceptible to the future outbreaks of pandemics.
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[...]there is apparel for sale that has a limited lifespan and is deemed disposable (Gözet, B., and Wilts, H., 2022). [...]the sector has faced challenges such as increased production costs, energy tariffs, pricing, a lack of raw materials, obsolete technology, and a lack of investment. The country is shifting from exporting raw materials to value-added products, with significant increases in exports of readymade garments, knitwear, bedwear, towels, and cotton textiles. [...]global input cost increases and currency rate changes have increased the export sector's working capital needs (Goheer, 2022).
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PurposeThe purpose of the present study is to synthesize the extant literature on augmented reality and virtual reality in the apparel industry using bibliometric and network visualization techniques. This paper also highlights the existing gaps in the literature and sets out the future research trajectory.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigated research articles in the domain of augmented and virtual reality in the apparel industry to assess global trends in research production in this area, and top contributors to research by way of authors, journals, countries and institutions. The study carried out an analysis of 239 research articles from the Scopus database during the period 1995 to 2021. The study used open-source bibliometric tools such as Biblioshiny and VOSviewer to analyze the research literature over the search period and also identify emerging research avenues.FindingsThe bibliometric analysis reveals that there is significant interest in this research domain. A total of 673 authors contributed to the 239 research articles analyzed and the number of multi-author documents exceeded those by single authors. Research in this domain is led by China with the maximum number of articles in the data set followed by the USA and France. However, the USA has received the highest number of citations. Donghua University from China is the largest contributor to research in this domain with 13 articles in the data set. The keyword co-occurrence analysis indicates that "virtual reality” has the most number of co-occurrences and linkages with other keywords. Other important keywords include "augmented reality,” "virtual try-on” and "cloth simulation.” The network visualization exercise also revealed significant collaboration between different countries in this research domain.Practical implicationsThe gaps highlighted in this study will act as a reference point for researchers to conduct future studies in the field of augmented and virtual reality in apparel industry. Practitioners will also gain a comprehensive understanding of this research domain.Originality/valueThis study, to the best of the authors' knowledge, is the first attempt to integrate the disjoint literature of augmented and virtual reality in apparel industry through a mapping of the intellectual structure of this research domain. The study also contributes by way of providing a snapshot of future research avenues in the knowledge domain of augmented and virtual reality in the apparel industry.
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PurposeThis study prioritizes the supply chain risks (SCRs) and determines risk mitigation strategies (RMSs) for the Indian apparel industry to mitigate the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption.Design/methodology/approachInitially, 23 SCRs within the apparel industry are identified through an extant literature review. Further, a fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) is utilized to prioritize the SCRs considering the epidemic situations to understand the criticality of SCRs and determine appropriate RMSs to mitigate the shock of SCRs during COVID-19.FindingsThis study prioritized and ranked the SCRs within the Indian apparel industry based on their severity during the COVID-19 disruption. Results indicate that the demand uncertainty and pandemic disruption risks are the most critical. Based on the SCRs, the present work evaluated and suggested the flexibility and postponement mitigation strategies for the case under study.Research limitations/implicationsThis study has novel implications to the existing literature on supply chain risk management in the form of the FAHP framework. Supply chain practitioners from the other industrial sectors can extend the proposed FAHP framework to assess the SCRs and identify suitable mitigation strategies. The results aid the practitioners working in an apparel industry to benchmark and deploy the proposed RMSs in their firm.Originality/valueThe present study is a unique and earlier attempt to develop a quantitative framework using FAHP to evaluate and determine the risk mitigation strategy for managing the SCRs during the coronavirus epidemic.
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Wearing respirators and face masks is effective for protecting the public from COVID-19 infection. Thus, there is a need to evaluate the performance of the commonly used respirators and face masks. Two experimental systems were developed to investigate seven different mask materials, which have a fiber size range from 0.1 µm (100 nm) to 20 µm (20,000 nm). One of the systems is a computer-controlled setup for measuring the filtration performance, including size-dependent filtration efficiency and pressure drop, while the other system is for testing the fiber shedding behavior of the materials. The technique of scanning electron microscope (SEM) was applied to observe the dimensions and structures of those materials, which are made of nonwoven-fabrics electret-treated media, cotton woven fabrics, or nanofiber media. The study indicated that the 3M N95 respirator has the best overall filtration performance with over 95% efficiency and low pressure drop of 74.1 Pa. The two commercial cotton face masks have the worst filtration performance in general, with a filtration efficiency of around 25%. No broken fibers from by the seven tested respirator and face mask materials were discovered;however, dendrite structures likely shed by the SHEMA97 face mask with a size comparable to its nanoscale fibers were identified. The reason for this phenomena is presented. © 2023, AAGR Aerosol and Air Quality Research. All rights reserved.
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The European fabric fairs for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season were held in a hesitant spirit, reflecting economic uncertainties affecting the whole of the textile and clothing industry. The industry has faced persistent disruptions to supply chains caused by lockdowns, which have continued to be imposed in major textile and clothing producing countries in an attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has introduced additional challenges—including difficulties in procuring raw materials and sharp increases in fuel and energy costs. At the same time, calls for the European textile and clothing industry to take action to reduce the damaging impact of its operations on the environment have intensified. It was evident at the fairs that many exhibitors had acknowledged these calls in the development of their product ranges for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season. Many had turned to eliminating dyes which contain harmful synthetic chemicals from their ranges and some had collaborated with leading innovators in the development of dyes which contain natural pigments, plant-based materials and, in some cases, fermented foodstuffs. For several exhibitors, it was important to replace finishing treatments which contain toxic chemicals with finishing treatments containing natural substances while for others the key considerations were traceability and transparency in the design and development of their ranges. The key colours for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season are rich and earthy, although there are some exceptions to this trend. Notably, grey is prominent—and silver is the principal metallic colour of the season. Print and pattern are prominent in collections for the season and, importantly, eccentric and fantastical graphic designs dominate. Designs which feature and surrealist imagery are prevalent while designs which are influenced by folklore and classical antiquity are popular. Also popular are designs which feature photographic imagery of landscapes and urban scenery, and designs which feature hand drawn illustrations, references to pop art, and collage. © Textiles Intelligence Limited 2022.
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Purpose: This study aims to contribute to the debate on the efficacy of softer regulations to prevent violations of workers' rights in the global clothing supply chain. Design/methodology/approach: This study draws on value trap and adverse incorporations as a theoretical lens to understand the reasons behind the continued violations of workers' rights. The empirical findings are based on an analysis of 24 semi-structured interviews with workers and owners. Extensive documentary evidence to track the plight of workers in Bangladeshi clothing factories during the pandemic. Findings: The study demonstrates how imbalances in supply chain relationships allow retailers to take advantage of the pandemic. The authors find that some retailers worsened the working conditions by cancelling orders, demanding discounts on old orders and forcing suppliers to agree to a lower price for new orders. Large brands and retailers' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic remind us that softer regulations, such as third-party audits, are likely to be ineffective given the power imbalance at the heart of the supply chain. Practical implications: The study presents a case for regulatory frameworks and intense stakeholder activism to encourage large retailers and brands to behave responsibly. This is especially important when a supply chain is value-trapped and workers are adversely incorporated and unprotected. Originality/value: Drawing on studies on adverse incorporations, value-trapped supply chains and the plight of workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the study offers a broader understanding of the continued violation of workers' rights and the efficacy of softer regulations. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.
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. The COVID-19 pandemic turned the spotlight on the inequalities and the vulnerability of the global supply chains. It showed the serious dependency and the asymmetrical power relations among the stakeholders of the fashion industry. The relocation tendencies - as fashion brands are trying to break up with Asia and move production closer - have already started, and the pandemic can give a boost to it. The Central-Eastern European region can be a possible destination. The shorter supply chains are not just a tool for resilience but are told to serve sustainability as well. My hypothesis is that even though the geography of fashion industry is changing, power relations are not, and the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic has even increased dependency among the different players. Power relations are important among the region's production and the clients if relocation is to work out, as there is need for inclusive, fair, and decent employment, which is rarely guaranteed by fashion brands. Without it, sustainability cannot be achieved. In this paper, I focus on the examination of socio-economic processes in contemporary fashion such as the relocation tendencies and the power relations among the stakeholders, mainly fashion brands and production companies as subcontractors of the fashion industry. Especially, I examine profit and risk as factors within the relations. The critical essay uses literature review and document analysis to investigate a possible change in the current role of power relations and to examine the hypothesis.
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Though the government relaxed the lockdown later, they continued to impose some strict restrictions on provincial movement during July 2021 and quarantined a few places. [...]small and private handloom industries could not function properly as they used to before the pandemic. According to Teece, sensing denotes gathering and clarifying information from the ecosystem 'to create a conjecture or a hypothesis about the likely evolution of technologies, customer needs, and marketplace responses' and 'involves scanning and monitoring internally'. [...]seizing promotes investment decisions by getting to know the external and internal information, and it is closely linked with strategic decision making. Li and Liu (2014) defined transforming as depending on the nature of the change that takes place in the business environment, and based on the nature of the objectives, the organization has the ability to execute and coordinate changes in the strategic decision making which involves a variety of managerial and organizational processes.
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The European yarn fairs for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season were held in a hesitant spirit, reflecting economic uncertainties affecting the whole of the textile and clothing industry. The industry has faced persistent disruptions to supply chains caused by lockdowns, which have continued to be imposed in major textile and clothing producing countries in an attempt to stem the spread of COVID-19. Furthermore, the war in Ukraine has introduced additional challenges—including difficulties in procuring raw materials and sharp increases in fuel and energy costs. At the same time, calls for the European textile and clothing industry to take action to reduce the damaging impact of its operations on the environment have intensified. It was evident at the fairs that many exhibitors had acknowledged these calls in the development of their product ranges for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season. Many had turned to using recycled waste materials in a bid to improve their sustainability credentials while some had implemented strategies aimed at reducing energy and water consumption and others had replaced materials derived from petroleum with natural materials. Several exhibitors had developed yarns made using materials derived from post-consumer waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles. However, claims made about the environmental sustainability of such materials faced some challenges, given that synthetic fibres are known to be a cause of microplastics pollution. Yarns made from natural fibres, especially merino wool, were prevalent at the yarn fairs. However, there was a consensus among exhibitors that the industry is facing pressures to guarantee the welfare of the animals used in its supply chains. There was also a consensus that consumers are expecting manufacturers to be more responsible and transparent about the animal fibres they use. One of the ways in which manufacturers aim to meet these expectations in their product ranges for the autumn/winter 2023/24 season is to achieve compliance with international certification schemes, such as the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). © Textiles Intelligence Limited 2022.
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India ranks as the world’s second largest producer of textiles and clothing after China, and is the sixth largest exporter of textiles and clothing in international markets. Its textile and clothing industry is long established, extensive and wide ranging, and the industry fulfils a vital role in India’s economy—not least in terms of employment opportunities and export earnings. Moreover, it remains one of the country’s most important industrial sectors, even though the Indian economy is expanding rapidly and shifting impressively towards high-tech manufacturing and service sectors. In fact, the textile and clothing industry continues to represent India’s largest manufacturing activity, and in 2021/22 it accounted for about 7% of the country’s industrial production, 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and 10% of its national export earnings. Also, the industry provides direct employment for around 45 mn people, many of them females. In addition, an estimated 100 mn people are employed in indirect activities—notably in the agricultural sector. The importance of the textile and clothing industry to India’s economy is recognised by the Indian government in its provision of substantial assistance and support. The textile and clothing industry also benefits from India’s huge domestic market, reflecting the fact that the country has a population of 1.39 bn people. Furthermore, this market is growing. Admittedly, the value of the market fell in 2020/21 alone, from US$106 bn to US$75 bn, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. But by 2025/26 it is forecast to increase to US$190 bn, in line with growing prosperity and a continuously growing population. © Textiles Intelligence Limited 2022.
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Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a promising technology quite useful in many industries including biotechnology, biomedical, textiles, and food processing. The contrivance of plasma technology can be a potential game-changer to use in any possible way in these industries. This CAP technology is technically a green process with no generation of chemically harmful substances with more ecological and economic benefits. This review article will focus on the research done in the textile industry and food processing, how plasma brings in an effective change in these industrial sectors as well the as application of CAP in disinfection, sterilization, microbial inactivation, and surface modification to obtain desirable results. Recently, there have been reports of successful use of CAP technology for surface inactivation of SARS-CoV-2, plasma-activated water for disinfection of SARS-CoV-2. This article will streamline the innovations in textiles and food industries achieved using plasma technology and what gaps industries face while manufacturing. The focus will be on what research has already done while depicting the gaps and opportunities for using plasma technology in these industries and making use of it to achieve a circular economy, which is one of the major policies of the European countries. A circular economy enables manufactures to produce goods which can be reused, recycled, refurbished, and repaired rather than scrapping them after a single use. The reduction of harmful chemicals, wastewater treatment, and sterilization is achieved using plasma technology and allows reusing the resources which consequently helps to achieve most of the UN’s sustainable development goals and help society to live a sustainable and better life. Copyright © 2022 Reema, Khanikar, Bailung and Sankaranarayanan.
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Today's world is a VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) world where the environment keeps changing all the time. As rightly said by Charles Darwin: "It is not the most intellectual of the species that survives;it is not the strongest that survives;but the species that survives is the one that is able best to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself". This saying is also applicable to corporates. Successful are the companies that learn to adapt as per the changes in the business environment. COVID-19 pandemic had been most the recent VUCA event that the world has faced. This pandemic has strikingly disrupted the global economic system. It has compelled corporates to relook into their supply chain practices. The aim of this article is to study and examine the changes that occurred in the Supply Chain Strategies of the Lifestyle Apparel Industry post-COVID '19. This article is exploratory in nature and draws data from primary and secondary sources. In order to collect the relevant primary data, a sample survey was carried out at various apparel retailers.
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In this 21st century, in front of the whole world it was a very unlikely occurrence of a new pandemic named as Covid-19. First China and after other countries it advanced its black claw on Bangladesh. Bangladeshs government was aware of the pandemics predicament and took steps to protect the population, as well as the economy and numerous industrial sectors. Though the government of Bangladesh did its hardest to provide all forms of assistance to the countrys economy, the government was unable to successfully control the pandemic due to the countrys large population and peoples irresponsibility. Due to the significant impact of Covid-19 during this epidemic, various economic and financial sectors were severely harmed, particularly the garment industry sector. Covid-19 also has an impact on financial institutions such as banks and other financial institutions. Small businesses, start-ups, and other commercial concerns were also severely harmed. The impact of the epidemic on these industries has had a huge impact on all sectors. This research aims to give a comprehensive and useful overview of the observed and potential consequences in the near future. The study relied on secondary data. Information was gathered from numerous media sources, articles, newspapers, policy experts, and other publications in order to better comprehend it. The goal of this research is to describe Bangladeshs pandemic challenges and government response to the worldwide issue.
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The recent U.S.–China trade conflicts cast new light on the role of trade policies in global value chains (GVCs). Contrary to the expectation that trade restrictions lead to the shrinking or disruption of GVCs, our article posits that the unintended consequences of trade policies (both restrictions and trade agreements) are amplified by the prevalence and organizational complexity of GVCs. We anchor our argument in the historical evolution of three classic GVCs – apparel, automobiles, and electronics – from the 1970s to the present. Our framework highlights the dynamic interaction between GVC-oriented trade policies and firm strategies, which often has counterintuitive implications in terms of upgrading outcomes for the countries and companies involved in these GVCs. While trade policies often provide momentum for an adaptive reconfiguration of GVCs, firms’ strategic actions are crucial in modifying the geographic and organizational features of GVCs in ways that support their longevity. Firm strategies can mediate the effect of trade policies on GVC configurations in two ways: (1) firms can accommodate trade restrictions and trade agreements by altering supply and demand locations and by switching supply-chain partners;and (2) firms pursue diverse strategies to upgrade their value chain activities, leveraging the shifting geographies associated with new trade rules.
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Capitalul de lucru, de care afacerile au nevoie pentru a-şi desfăşura activităţile zilnice si pentru a-şi plăti datoriile pe termen scurt, influenţează, de asemenea, în mod semnificativ profitabilitatea companiilor. Pandemia de Covid-19 din 2020 a forţat ţările să se închidă în perioadele în care boala s-a extins, ceea ce a dus aproape la încetarea comerţului intern şi exterior. Multe întreprinderi cu lichiditate slabă au fost nevoite să-şi închidă datoriile pe termen scurt. Odată cu pandemia, capitalul de lucru a devenit mult mai important pentru întreprinderi. În acest studiu, întreprinderile de îmbrăcăminte care operează în Turcia şi ale căror date din situaţiile financiare pot fi accesate prin intermediul Băncii Centrale au fost clasificate în funcţie de dimensiunea lor şi au fost analizate ratele de lichiditate ale acestor companii în perioada 2011-2020. În ultimii 10 ani, s-a stabilit că, în special întreprinderile mari şi mijlocii şi-au consolidat lichiditatea şi şi-au crescut semnificativ numerarul şi echivalentele de numerar. Cu toate acestea, o astfel de creştere nu a fost observată în puterea de numerar a întreprinderilor mici. În plus, în cadrul studiului au fost analizaţi factorii care influenţează profitabilitatea companiilor şi s-a determinat că scăderea ratei Levier Financiar şi Îndatorare la capitaluri proprii la întreprinderile mari a crescut profitabilitatea. În întreprinderile mijlocii, s-a stabilit că creşterea ratei curente şi a perioadelor de încasare a creanţelor a crescut profitabilitatea. S-a stabilit că singura lichiditate semnificativă care afectează profitabilitatea întreprinderilor mici este lichiditatea curentă.Alternate :Working capital, which businesses need to carry out their daily activities and pay their short-term debts, also significantly affects the profitability of companies. The Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 forced countries to close during the periods when the disease increased, which led to almost cessation of domestic and foreign trade. Many enterprises with weak liquidity had to close their short-term debts. With the pandemic, working capital has become much more important for enterprises. In this study, apparel enterprises operating in Turkey and whose financial statement data can be accessed through the Central Bank were classified according to their size and the liquidity ratios of these companies between 2011-2020 were analysed. In the last 10 years, it has been determined that especially large and medium-sized enterprises have strengthened their liquidity and significantly increased their cash and cash equivalents. However, such an increase was not observed in the cash power of small enterprises. In addition, the factors affecting the profitability of the companies were analysed in the study, and it was determined that the decrease in the Financial Leverage and Debt to Equity ratios in large enterprises increased the profitability. In medium-sized enterprises, it has been determined that the increase in current ratio and receivables collection periods increased profitability. It has been determined that the only significant ratio that affects profitability in small-scale enterprises is the current ratio.
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Mandatory human rights due diligence is the latest global example of a legislative scheme for fostering corporate action on human rights risks within business supply chains. Such proposals stem from more than 30 years of increased pressure on companies to tackle labour rights abuses. If not clearly defined and implemented, human rights due diligence risks enhancing the legitimacy of techniques such as social auditing to serve as inadequate proxies for due diligence. Without mechanisms to incorporate the views of rights holders in its design and implementation and ensure access to remedies for rights holders, it is perhaps more accurately depicted (for now) as the next shiny thing that may be more a distraction than a substantive mechanism for pursuing real change and redress for labour exploitation in global supply chains.
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Purpose>This paper argues that the closures will cause regressive rather than progressive modern slavery shifts as the necessity of survival prevails over addressing modern slavery risks within supply chains.Design/methodology/approach>In the spring of 2020, global clothing retailers were advised or ordered to close physical stores due to lockdown measures of the COVID-19 pandemic and many supply chains temporarily halted production. This paper explains how pre-pandemic modern slavery advancements will be detrimentally affected as a result of societal lockdowns and apparel retail closures around the world.Findings>Two consequences of lockdowns are highlighted, which will have negative implications on modern slavery progress. These are the exploitation of vulnerable people, which includes higher exploitation of those already involved in modern slavery and increased risk of exploitation for those susceptible to being drawn (back) into modern slavery and;the need for repetition of previous work completed by external stakeholders or in some cases, a better alternative.Practical implications>The pandemic itself causes friction between immediate response solutions and long-term modern slavery goals.Social implications>In response to modern slavery drivers, governments may need to fill governance gaps, to control the power of corporations and to reconsider migration regulation.Originality/value>The COVID-19 lockdowns and subsequent supply chain disruptions were unforeseen. This paper argues that there are significant negative effects on the developments in modern slavery eradication made in the past 10 years. As businesses struggled for basic survival, the apparel manufacturing sector has been detrimentally affected as upstream labourers are now at higher risk from the increased likelihood of modern slavery violations.
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Purpose>A two-dimensional (2D) body measurement system was implemented to study the application of sportswear design in measurement garment development. A total of 50 participants were recruited. The basic demographic information and sportswear preference data were collected through a survey to understand consumer preferences and acceptance of the new designs. The body measurements were collected through both the selected 2D measurement system and a commercial three-dimensional scanning booth to evaluate measurement accuracy.Design/methodology/approach>Finding the right size has been a long-existing problem for clothing consumers. Size problem is the most common reason for e-commerce returns and adds a high cost for retailers. One possible solution is to offer consumers an easy-to-use method that extracts accurate body measurements to be used for clothing size selection. The purpose of this research is to apply sportswear design elements on measurement garments to see if consumers’ interest in using the 2D measurement system can be increased without influencing the measurement accuracy.Findings>The results showed that the added design features increased consumers’ interest in using 2D body measuring technology without significantly influencing measurement accuracy.Originality/value>This research applied sportswear elements to convert a 2D measurement bodysuit to a fashionable clothing product. The solution resolved users’ privacy concerns and increased their acceptance and use of the technology. Other studies have not focused on using aesthetic features to improve the 2D measurement technology.