Dressing the Future: The Bibliometric Interplay Between Sustainability and Fashion Studies Amidst the Neoliberal Era

Abstract

The concept of sustainability has significantly influenced various industries, notably the fashion sector. This study conducts a thorough quantitative and qualitative analysis of the interplay between fashion studies and sustainability. Utilizing data from the Scopus database, 890 articles published between 2000 and 2023 were scrutinized through an integrated approach combining bibliometric and content analyses. The aim was to explore how sustainability, initially an economic notion, left its imprint on academic research in fashion studies. This research was accompanied by a critical assessment of the neoliberal context, which envisions a market-oriented political economy model in which the concept of sustainability emerged. Key findings include a steadily increasing emphasis on sustainability in fashion research. Notable journals leading the discourse include Sustainability, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Journal of Cleaner Production, Fashion Practice, and International Journal of Fashion Design Technology and Education. Interestingly, while fashion is rooted in the arts, significant contributions emerged from researchers in diverse disciplines, reflecting the field’s interdisciplinary nature. The study identified five critical thematic clusters within: sustainable fashion design, sustainable fashion production, sustainable fashion marketing, sustainable fashion consumption, and the theoretical foundation in sustainable fashion. This research not only enriches the literature by mapping the trajectory of sustainability in fashion studies but also highlights the evolving nature of fashion research, bridging traditional boundaries and embracing a more holistic approach to sustainability.