Redefining the Fashion Industry: Sustainable Practices and Technological Innovations

The fashion industry is a major contributor to global pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, producing 10% of emissions and 20% of wastewater. Plastic consumption exacerbates these issues. Sustainability efforts, circular business models and sustainable fashion concepts are key to reducing CO2 emissions and plastic waste. Laws and regulations at national and international levels regulate the environmental impact of fashion. The fashion industry often falls short of sustainability goals; however, contemporary technological advancements offer a wide range of tools to address this issue. Through AI, the fashion industry can optimize various processes in the apparel production process. The issue of textile waste must be tackled by retailers, brands, government departments, recyclers, sustainability leaders, researchers; an interdisciplinary and global approach has paramount importance. Research plays a pivotal role in understanding these complex issues combining innovative solutions with sustainable practices to promote long-term environmental, social, and economic well-being.

The main objective of this Research Topic is to develop innovative solutions to address issues concerning the environmental, economic, and social impact of the fashion industry, recognized as one of the most polluting industries in the world. Best practices must be explored offering valuable insights that can inform local, regional, and national policies, exploring the challenges and opportunities of aligning business strategies in the fashion industry with the sustainable development goals, new legislation, and stakeholder expectations.

The journey towards a more sustainable fashion industry and shared interest in developing innovative solutions addressing environmental, economic, and social impacts of the fashion industry can contribute to evidence-based policymaking and enhance society’s well-being by addressing sustainable development goals especially related to responsible production and consumption (Goal 12) and climate change (Goal 13). One of the key ingredients to drive ‘sustainable fashion’ successful is to put the effective and appropriate ‘recycling/upcycling’ system in place in the fashion industry which is also useful to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Social Responsibility referring to human-centered design, which emphasizes the relationship between people and objects as functional tools and establishing an industry-led Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for Clothing and Textiles have paramount relevance.

Indeed, an interdisciplinary and global approach has paramount importance to tackle the issues related to the fashion industry.

Submissions are invited from both academics and industry professionals on all aspects of ethical and sustainable fashion and textiles. Through this Research Topic, we call for scholars to challenge the current fashion system and to reimagine ways in which sustainability, technology and their interplay, shape design, retailing, marketing, regulations, and all aspects of the fashion industry.

We welcome contributions on the following topics:

• Education/teaching and sustainable fashion;
• Social Responsibility referring to human-centered design, which emphasizes the relationship between people and objects as functional tools;
• Eco-design for sustainable products;
• Circular economy, sustainable material, sustainable supply chain, sustainable waste management and end of life management;
• Technology advancements to optimize efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability across the full manufacturing life cycle, including the supply chain;
• Reducing water consumption and other resources;
• Artificial intelligence for sustainable fashion;
• Sustainable supply chain innovations;
• Textile recycling and circular fashion;
• Consumer engagement and ethical transparency;
• Responsible consumer behavior in the fashion and textile industry;
• Green production in the fashion and textile industry;
• Energy consumption and saving in the fashion and textiles industry;
• Consumer awareness and perception towards sustainable fashion;
• Consumer fashion recycling behaviors;
• New regulations and trends: Sustainable policies;
• Legislation on greenwashing and sustainable fashion industry;
• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for clothing and textiles;
• Climate change and textiles/fashion;
• Sustainable development, net zero and implications for the fashion industry; and
• Sustainable design/sustainable production of fiber, yarn, fabric, and apparel.

This list is not exhaustive. We welcome contributions on other topics connected to sustainability and technology and their confluence in shaping design, retail, legislation, and marketing in a fashion/textile context.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Sustainable Textiles, Sustainable Design, Innovative sustainable solutions, sustainable policies, circular economy, smart sustainable solutions and practices, environmental protection, AI applications in the fashion industry

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.