28 Sustainable Fashion Supply Chains: Innovative Practices of Chinese Silk Enterprises
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Caixia Chen
Abstract
This chapter explores sustainability in China’s silk industry. Tracing its roots to ancient practices that embodied harmony between humanity and nature, modern silk production continues this legacy through advancements in environmental practices such as the carbon sink effect of mulberry cultivation and circular economy models, which enhance stability and long-term sustainability of the supply chain. The chapter highlights the role of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) as a critical governance framework. Through low-carbon production, industrial collaboration, and the fulfilment of corporate social responsibilities, the silk supply chain has achieved significant milestones in environmental protection, fair trade, and innovation. It also supports rural development by creating employment and economic opportunities in underprivileged regions. Collaborative governance has improved global competitiveness, creating a fair and sustainable market ecosystem. Implementation of waste recycling, mechanised production, and carbon traceability mechanisms support the industry’s green transformation. However, critical challenges remain. China has limited influence in global cocoon pricing and market governance, the disconnect between silk production and consumer market demands, and the industry’s focus on raw material processing at the expense of high-end branding. Environmental policies pose additional constraints and quality management requires improvement. Overcoming these challenges is vital for the industry’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability.
Abstract
This chapter explores sustainability in China’s silk industry. Tracing its roots to ancient practices that embodied harmony between humanity and nature, modern silk production continues this legacy through advancements in environmental practices such as the carbon sink effect of mulberry cultivation and circular economy models, which enhance stability and long-term sustainability of the supply chain. The chapter highlights the role of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) as a critical governance framework. Through low-carbon production, industrial collaboration, and the fulfilment of corporate social responsibilities, the silk supply chain has achieved significant milestones in environmental protection, fair trade, and innovation. It also supports rural development by creating employment and economic opportunities in underprivileged regions. Collaborative governance has improved global competitiveness, creating a fair and sustainable market ecosystem. Implementation of waste recycling, mechanised production, and carbon traceability mechanisms support the industry’s green transformation. However, critical challenges remain. China has limited influence in global cocoon pricing and market governance, the disconnect between silk production and consumer market demands, and the industry’s focus on raw material processing at the expense of high-end branding. Environmental policies pose additional constraints and quality management requires improvement. Overcoming these challenges is vital for the industry’s long-term competitiveness and sustainability.
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
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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
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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
