Sustainable Business Practices

The complexity of the relationship between brands and the factories that produce their goods goes beyond a simple business transaction. Brands are held responsible for social, labor and environmental issues that are at the factories, most of which are located in diverse locations around the world. This study investigates whether the most common tool, the …

Creating Partnership in Brand and Factory ESG Relationships, Amanda Moretz Read More »

In recent years, corporations have increasingly engaged in voluntary non- financial disclosure practices. This paper uses legitimacy theory to explain why firms engage in such voluntary disclosure practices, particular with respect to disclosures relating to environmental, social, and governance topics (ESG). The objective of this paper is to test and confirm the viability of legitimacy …

Investigating Environmental Disclosure in Corporate Annual Reports: A Legitimacy Theory Perspective, Nathan Frazer Read More »

There is great momentum in the fashion industry to accelerate positive environmental change. This drive has placed internal and external pressures on brands to show continuous progress, making them eager for data to measure, report, and prove they are contributing to reduced emissions and minimized environmental impacts. Brands often rely on life cycle assessment data …

Impacts of the Fashion Industry: A Review of Sustainability Frameworks and Holistic Tools to Accelerate Positive Environmental Change, Megan Meiklejohn Read More »

The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the way people live, work, and shop. This time of upheaval is a critical moment for the fashion industry to re-evaluate its business practices, as one of the most polluting industries. The purpose of this research is to understand the impact of the pandemic on fashion brands in implementing circularity …

COVID-19 as a Reset for the Fashion Industry – Where Do Brands Go from Here?, Sophie Kweskin Read More »

This research examines the Slow Fashion Movement to provide a snapshot of its emergence and evolution in response to the Fast Fashion approach that has taken over the last decades. Using a targeted survey, it explores the opportunities and barriers that are perceived by the most visible brands in this market. Despite the companies’ efforts, …

The emergence of Slow Fashion, trends, opportunities and Challenges, Matteo Prodani Read More »

This research inquires whether sustainable voluntary private certification schemes (CS) can be effective means of advancing sustainability practices inside companies and of improving financial performance. This thesis focuses on a particular certification, namely the Brazilian Leather Certification of Sustainability (CSCB), this specific certification aims to introduce best practices in tanneries by centering on four dimensions: …

The Value of Certification Schemes for Sustainability and Financial Performance: An analysis of the Leather Industry in Brazil, Juliana Zaffari Read More »

Today’s fashion industry is ripe for disruption as it faces old problems and new demands at all parts of the value chain. Consumers increasingly demand that brands do more to protect livelihoods across the entire value chain, while producers’ need for meaningful work and wages that allow for a life where human rights are fully …

Effectiveness and Autonomy for Social Enterprise: Industry Perspectives on Business Models for the Artisan Sector, Dalaiah Kusner Read More »

It is evident that the current fashion industry needs systemic change to become an ethically and environmentally sustainable industry. In the pursuit of a sustainable fashion system, designers have been continuously regarded as key players throughout the sustainable fashion literature. However, understanding of the specific needs of designers to be able to facilitate the shift …

Understanding Designers as the Leading Force in Sustainable Fashion, Mireu Park Read More »

Over the past decade, the fashion industry has been striving to achieve more environmentally sound operations through the adoption of voluntary commitments. Voluntary commitments can be described as pledges that bring many global brands, holding groups, and organizations together who commit to reaching specific environmental goals. This study examines four voluntary commitments and their effect …

Understanding the Impact Voluntary Commitments Have on Sustainability Strategies Adopted by US Fashion Brands, Shannon Welch Read More »