22 Reframing Fast Fashion: A Paradigm Shift for the Two Dirtiest Words in Our Fashion Vocabulary and the Introduction of Flow Fashion
-
Ann Lopatin Cantrell
Abstract
This chapter explores how innovative fashion brands have successfully merged fast and slow fashion principles and provides a framework of pedagogic strategies for incorporating these insights into education. Fast fashion has fundamentally changed how we create, manufacture, and buy clothing. Although its business principles of speed to market and democratisation of fashion are commendable, fast fashion has a destructive impact on the environment and society. Synthetic fibres pollute ecosystems, unethical labour conditions persist, and overproduction fuels textile waste. The relentless pace of fashion trends results in garments being discarded after few wears, much of which ends up in landfills or is exported to developing countries without effective waste management infrastructure. Inspired by microtrends, social media influencers and our desire for new and trendy items, fast fashion has become so quick that it could be called ‘Instant Fashion’. This chapter proposes a reframing of the term ‘fast fashion’ and introduces a new concept of Flow Fashion, which combines the best business principles of fast fashion with the core values of slow fashion. It presents examples of industry practice from innovative fashion brands operating at this intersection of Flow Fashion and concludes with pedagogical strategies for reframing fast fashion in the classroom.
Abstract
This chapter explores how innovative fashion brands have successfully merged fast and slow fashion principles and provides a framework of pedagogic strategies for incorporating these insights into education. Fast fashion has fundamentally changed how we create, manufacture, and buy clothing. Although its business principles of speed to market and democratisation of fashion are commendable, fast fashion has a destructive impact on the environment and society. Synthetic fibres pollute ecosystems, unethical labour conditions persist, and overproduction fuels textile waste. The relentless pace of fashion trends results in garments being discarded after few wears, much of which ends up in landfills or is exported to developing countries without effective waste management infrastructure. Inspired by microtrends, social media influencers and our desire for new and trendy items, fast fashion has become so quick that it could be called ‘Instant Fashion’. This chapter proposes a reframing of the term ‘fast fashion’ and introduces a new concept of Flow Fashion, which combines the best business principles of fast fashion with the core values of slow fashion. It presents examples of industry practice from innovative fashion brands operating at this intersection of Flow Fashion and concludes with pedagogical strategies for reframing fast fashion in the classroom.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Contributors IX
- Introducing Fashion Supply Chains and Operations 1
-
Section I: Perspectives on Fashion Supply Chains and Operations
- 1 Interwoven: A Historical Examination of Relational Capital in the Context of Shetland Hand Knitting and the Barter Economy 11
- 2 The Evolution of the Fashion Supply Chain 25
- 3 Legislating Fashion Circularity: Policy Design Challenges 43
- 4 Coopetition for Fashion Supply Chains 55
- 5 Fashion Supply Chain Management in Disruptions 71
- 6 Fair Trade Fashion Branding and Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Opportunities 87
-
Section II: Geographies of Fashion Supply Chain Operations
- 7 Consumer Textile Recycling Behaviour in Hong Kong and Implications for Fashion Supply Chain Management 99
- 8 Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of Fashion Supply Chains: Applications in China 115
- 9 Opportunities and Challenges of China’s Silk Supply Chain 129
- 10 Refugee Workers in Global Fashion Supply Chains 145
- 11 A Circular Reformation of Slow Fashion Supply Chains Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Case Study from Turkey 161
- 12 Fashion Supply Chain Challenges in Brazil 177
- 13 Review of Procurement Practices in the South African Clothing Industry 189
- 14 The Final Stop in the Fast Fashion Supply Chain: Waste Management Practices in Ghana’s Second-Hand Clothing Trade 207
-
Section III: Operations Transformation in Fashion Supply Chains
- 15 Decoding Blockchain Technology: Understanding the Impact for Luxury Fashion Supply Chains 225
- 16 Fashion Product Development for Clothing Longevity in the Supply Chain 245
- 17 Regenerative Systems in Textile and Fashion Supply Chains 259
- 18 Digital Technology and Modern Slavery in Fashion Supply Chains 275
- 19 Ethical Implications of AI-Driven Trend Forecasting in Fast Fashion 287
- 20 Unlocking Sustainability in Fashion Supply Chains Through Industrial Digital Technologies 303
- 21 Adopting a Design Thinking Approach to Embedding Sustainability Practices into Fashion Supply Chain Education 319
- 22 Reframing Fast Fashion: A Paradigm Shift for the Two Dirtiest Words in Our Fashion Vocabulary and the Introduction of Flow Fashion 333
- 23 Circular Fashion Ecosystems: The Role of Social Enterprises in Blending Environmental and Social Sustainability 345
-
Section IV: Implementing Sustainable Operations in Fashion Supply Chains
- 24 Exploring Challenges and Enablers in Textile Recycling Supply Chains 363
- 25 The Scottish Cashmere Supply Chain: An Investigation of Reuse Through Sustainability as a Service 379
- 26 Weak Sustainability, Strong Structures: Approaches to Change by Two Industries Within the Global Textile Value Chain 393
- 27 Transparency in Fashion Supply Chains: Examining the Influence of Country Regulation 407
- 28 Sustainable Fashion Supply Chains: Innovative Practices of Chinese Silk Enterprises 425
- 29 Sustainable Fashion Supply Chain Management: Environmental Focus on Bangladesh 441
- 30 Informal Circular Textile Supply Chains in Türkiye 459
- 31 Traceability, Transparency, and Collaboration for Sustainable Fashion Supply Chains 477
- Index
- De Gruyter Handbooks in Business
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Contributors IX
- Introducing Fashion Supply Chains and Operations 1
-
Section I: Perspectives on Fashion Supply Chains and Operations
- 1 Interwoven: A Historical Examination of Relational Capital in the Context of Shetland Hand Knitting and the Barter Economy 11
- 2 The Evolution of the Fashion Supply Chain 25
- 3 Legislating Fashion Circularity: Policy Design Challenges 43
- 4 Coopetition for Fashion Supply Chains 55
- 5 Fashion Supply Chain Management in Disruptions 71
- 6 Fair Trade Fashion Branding and Entrepreneurship: Challenges and Opportunities 87
-
Section II: Geographies of Fashion Supply Chain Operations
- 7 Consumer Textile Recycling Behaviour in Hong Kong and Implications for Fashion Supply Chain Management 99
- 8 Artificial Intelligence and the Transformation of Fashion Supply Chains: Applications in China 115
- 9 Opportunities and Challenges of China’s Silk Supply Chain 129
- 10 Refugee Workers in Global Fashion Supply Chains 145
- 11 A Circular Reformation of Slow Fashion Supply Chains Through Industrial Symbiosis: A Case Study from Turkey 161
- 12 Fashion Supply Chain Challenges in Brazil 177
- 13 Review of Procurement Practices in the South African Clothing Industry 189
- 14 The Final Stop in the Fast Fashion Supply Chain: Waste Management Practices in Ghana’s Second-Hand Clothing Trade 207
-
Section III: Operations Transformation in Fashion Supply Chains
- 15 Decoding Blockchain Technology: Understanding the Impact for Luxury Fashion Supply Chains 225
- 16 Fashion Product Development for Clothing Longevity in the Supply Chain 245
- 17 Regenerative Systems in Textile and Fashion Supply Chains 259
- 18 Digital Technology and Modern Slavery in Fashion Supply Chains 275
- 19 Ethical Implications of AI-Driven Trend Forecasting in Fast Fashion 287
- 20 Unlocking Sustainability in Fashion Supply Chains Through Industrial Digital Technologies 303
- 21 Adopting a Design Thinking Approach to Embedding Sustainability Practices into Fashion Supply Chain Education 319
- 22 Reframing Fast Fashion: A Paradigm Shift for the Two Dirtiest Words in Our Fashion Vocabulary and the Introduction of Flow Fashion 333
- 23 Circular Fashion Ecosystems: The Role of Social Enterprises in Blending Environmental and Social Sustainability 345
-
Section IV: Implementing Sustainable Operations in Fashion Supply Chains
- 24 Exploring Challenges and Enablers in Textile Recycling Supply Chains 363
- 25 The Scottish Cashmere Supply Chain: An Investigation of Reuse Through Sustainability as a Service 379
- 26 Weak Sustainability, Strong Structures: Approaches to Change by Two Industries Within the Global Textile Value Chain 393
- 27 Transparency in Fashion Supply Chains: Examining the Influence of Country Regulation 407
- 28 Sustainable Fashion Supply Chains: Innovative Practices of Chinese Silk Enterprises 425
- 29 Sustainable Fashion Supply Chain Management: Environmental Focus on Bangladesh 441
- 30 Informal Circular Textile Supply Chains in Türkiye 459
- 31 Traceability, Transparency, and Collaboration for Sustainable Fashion Supply Chains 477
- Index
- De Gruyter Handbooks in Business
