Apparel Supply Chain Research Articles

Effects of importing second-hand clothes on supply chains: insights for Africa’s textiles and apparel industry

ABSTRACT Some African countries import a large number of second-hand clothes. This paper examines how importing second-hand clothes affects Africa’s textile and apparel (TA) supply chain. We find that the availability of second-hand clothes could benefit consumers because it provides a new option to consumers. However, import bans and the importation of second-hand clothes may help or hurt local TA manufacturers and workers’ incomes depending on the cost structures for new and second-hand clothes. Imposing import tariffs restrains the second-hand clothing business, helps local TA manufacturers and improves consumer welfare if the quality of new clothing is competitive. Our findings provide insights into how governments use distribution management to protect local TA manufacturers in Africa. Encouraging agents to sell in the local market is desirable if a government wants to help local manufacturing firms and workers. However, if a government wants to collect more tariffs, not allowing second-hand clothing importers to sell through retailers is wise.

Apparel Supply Chain Management and Practice under the Perspective of Sustainable Development

Abstract: This study explores the challenges faced by the apparel industry and the means of attaining sustainable development via effective supply chain management amidst the backdrop of global economic integration and the evolving information technology landscape.Firstly, the current situation of the apparel industry is analyzed, including factors such as the increase in consumers' personalized demands, the increasingly fierce competition, the rising costs of labor and raw materials, and the growing consciousness of environmental preservation. The development status and problems of apparel supply chain management are then analyzed, including the excessively long supply chain, the lack of flexibility and adaptability in management, the opacity of information, the lack of a supplier evaluation system, and the neglect of sustainable development by enterprises. It further discusses achieving sustainable development in the apparel industry, including reducing water consumption and pollution, addressing the adverse consequences arising from the rapid turnover of fashion trends, promoting the construction of a circular supply chain, etc. Corresponding solutions are proposed. Finally, this study concludes how supply chain management and sustainable development practices can inject new vitality into apparel enterprises and achieve the industry's sustainable development goals.

AN IMPLEMENTATION OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY IN SUSTAINABLE APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN

The improper management of supply chain may lead to the occurance of numerous complications within a company, such as financial loss in inventory and distribution. It is imperative to inform businesses, including those in the apparel industry, on how to improve their supply chain using advanced technologies like blockchain technology. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the challenges of sustainable apparel in supply chain and to improve apparel supply chain by implementing the blockchain technology. Qualitative research design was employed and the data was collected via a face-to-face interview. The respondent acknowledged the company’s inadequate supply chain management for sustainable apparel. Such findings add to the body of knowledge on blockchain technology and sustainable supply chains by demonstrating how blockchain technology can change and benefit the apparel industry as well as improve the interaction between suppliers and consumers.

The global apparel industry is a significant yet overlooked source of plastic leakage

Plastic pollution is a global environmental threat with potentially irreversible impacts on aquatic life, ecosystems, and human health. This study is a comprehensive assessment of the global apparel industry’s contribution to plastic pollution. It includes plastic leakage of packaging and end-of-life apparel waste in addition to fiber emissions during apparel production and use. We estimate that the apparel industry generated 8.3 [4.8–12.3] million tons (Mt) of plastic pollution in 2019, corresponding to 14% [5.5%–30%] of the estimated 60 Mt from all sectors. In this study, we demonstrate that the main source of plastic pollution from the apparel supply chain is synthetic clothing as mismanaged waste either in the country of its original use or in the countries receiving used apparel exports. A fundamental transformation of the apparel economy towards a circular framework and decreased synthetic apparel consumption is needed to tackle apparel-related plastic pollution.

Collective Voice without Collective Bargaining: Pandemic Induced Wage Theft Claims and Worker Responses in Apparel Supply Chains

AbstractConcentrated corporate power and failures to manage the distribution of risk mean that workers bear the heaviest burden in globalised apparel supply chains. Law and associated normative frameworks seek to strengthen collective worker voice and other worker rights to tip the scales of unequal bargaining power to benefit the workers. However, some of the traditional tools of labour law such as unionising and collective bargaining have weakened over the years and exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a conceptual framework based on regulatory theory, feminist insights, and semi-autonomous social fields, this article examines the law-practice gap for regulating just wages within the apparel supply chain, responses, and how workers fight wage theft and carve out pathways to demand just wage standards. Drawing from the case of Sri Lanka, the article discusses how alternative forms of worker voice seek to fill in the implementation gaps. The findings of this study demonstrate worker initiatives to shape the regulation of just wages and how networked labour activism, especially by women workers, prompts to re-imagine structures of actor accountability on wage rights.

Supply Chain Management in Apparel Industry

Worries about insufficient data have given way to worries about an excess of data in the realm of supply chain management (SCM) in today's intricate and constantly evolving world. The substantial increase in data generated throughout the apparel supply chain has transformed the landscape of SCM analysis. The effectiveness and efficiency of earlier processes have dwindled with the surge in data volume. Due to the constraints of current methodologies in handling and deciphering extensive datasets, researchers have devised novel approaches capable of analyzing and interpreting vast amounts of data. Consequently, the main objective of this study is to explore the applications of machine learning (ML) within the Apparel Supply Chain, recognized as one of the prominent artificial intelligences (AI) methodologies.

RFID Technology Implication in the Apparel Industry

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology has emerged as a transformative tool in the apparel industry, offering numerous benefits ranging from enhanced inventory management to improved supply chain visibility and retail operations. This paper explores the implications of RFID technology in the apparel industry, highlighting its significant impact on various aspects of the apparel supply chain. Through the deployment of RFID tags on individual garments, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers alike can benefit from increased accuracy in inventory tracking, reduced stockouts, minimized shrinkage, and streamlined operations. Moreover, RFID facilitates real-time data capture and analytics, enabling retailers to optimize store layouts, enhance customer experiences, and implement omnichannel strategies effectively. Additionally, RFID technology supports sustainability initiatives by enabling efficient product recalls, reducing overstocking, and minimizing waste throughout the supply chain. Despite the initial investment required, the long-term benefits of RFID adoption in the apparel industry are substantial, paving the way for increased efficiency, transparency, and profitability in the global apparel market.

Supply Chain as a Service (SCaaS) in Apparel Industry

Supply Chain as a Service (SCaaS) represents an innovative approach for businesses to outsource various aspects of their supply chain, including manufacturing, procurement, warehousing, quality assurance, and logistics. Within the apparel industry, the supply chain encompasses five key categories: design, textile manufacturing, apparel manufacturing, distribution, and end-user purchase. Due to its consumer-centric nature, the apparel supply chain experiences fluctuating demand, posing challenges for effective management. Small apparel businesses often struggle with planning and implementing efficient supply chain strategies, resulting in significant losses, wasted labor, and missed deadlines. This paper proposes the implementation of SCaaS as a tailored solution for apparel units. The primary aim is to offer comprehensive end-to-end management services, ranging from strategic planning to product delivery. By leveraging SCaaS, companies can optimize their time allocation, focusing on customer interactions and the innovation of new products. This approach streamlines operations, enhances efficiency, and mitigates the risks associated with supply chain management, ultimately enabling apparel businesses to better adapt to market dynamics and meet consumer demands effectively.

Social drivers affecting job design in apparel supply chains: Inferences from a discrete choice experiment

AbstractBecause of increasing customer awareness and government regulations, apparel organisations are inclined to adopt social sustainability practices (SSPs) into their working environment. There is a lack of scientific literature examining the interaction between social and economic sustainability within the apparel industry from the employee perspective. This study aims to assess the preferences of blue and white‐collar employees in the apparel supply chain to implement SSPs. The SSPs were identified through a literature study and a deductive approach was taken to conduct a discrete choice experiment. The experiment revealed that blue‐collar employees prioritised maternity leaves and proper sanitary facilities, whereas white‐collar employees preferred corporate social responsibility initiatives and providing proper sanitary facilities when designing the jobs for blue‐collar employees. The study also identified willingness to pay for the identified practices highlighting the importance of providing maternity leaves and proper sanitary facilities to enhance economic and social sustainability. This research contributes to bridging the gap between the expectations of blue‐collar and white‐collar employees towards SSPs and provide an understanding of the interaction between the social and economic pillars of sustainability in the global apparel supply chain.

Evaluating Barriers to the Adoption of Blockchain for Enhancing Transparency in the Procurement Process within Apparel Supply Chains

The textile and apparel industry is a rapidly growing global market, with the emergence of its complexity, volatility, and competitiveness. As a result, consumer demand for transparency in the supply chain has surged, leading to the recognition of blockchain as a pivotal tool for enhanced transparency. This study focuses on evaluating barriers to blockchain adoption in apparel supply chains, with a specific emphasis on sourcing and procurement. Collaborating with industry experts in Sri Lanka, the research aims to address critical gaps in information flow. The study employed a methodology consisting of two distinct steps, incorporating a background study and Interpretative Structural Modeling (ISM). Data analysis involves identifying barriers, developing ISM-based hierarchy models, and conducting MICMAC analysis. The study reveals key challenges, such as lack of expertise and underdeveloped technology to adopt blockchain emphasizing the need for strategic planning to address these obstacles and facilitate successful blockchain implementation. This research contributes to bridging gaps in blockchain adoption within the apparel supply chain, providing practical insights for industry stakeholders and decision-makers. Future research should validate identified barriers and develop strategies for effective blockchain implementation.

Textile and apparel supply chain coordination under ESG related cost-sharing contract based on stochastic demand

In recent years, heightened attention has been given to the challenges of sustainable development precipitated by environmental pollution in the Textile and Apparel (TA) industry. The burgeoning demand for fast fashion, often reliant on cheap and environmentally unsustainable textiles, exacerbates this environmental degradation. To facilitate a harmonized and sustainable progression of the entire TA industry, this study employs the Stackelberg game model to investigate the prerequisites for establishing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) related cost-sharing contracts and their consequential effects on supply chain coordination. Specifically, the paper compares four distinct supply chain models under two conditions: whether market demand is stochastic or deterministic. Through this comparative analysis, the study finds that the ESG related cost-sharing contracts bring more profit to the textile and apparel supply chain (TASC) in deterministic and stochastic demand, which effectively mitigates the risks associated with unpredictable demand. Numerical results indicate that the ESG cost-sharing contract significantly improves TASC's ESG performance with customers' sustainable awareness increasing. Furthermore, such contracts are instrumental in enhancing the aggregate ESG environmental performance of the Textile and Apparel Supply Chain (TASC), elevating profits for both manufacturers and retailers and alleviating the impact of fluctuating demand on supply chain participants.

Shifting Modes of Labor Regulation in Global Supply Chains

executive summary: This essay outlines the changing modes of regulation of labor conditions in global apparel supply chains, which are mostly concentrated in Asia; assesses the effectiveness of 25 years of private voluntary regulation by global firms; and examines critically the implications of new European regulation now mandating what was previously a voluntary corporate activity. main argumentAsia is the global center of apparel production, with Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Vietnam all being major exporters. Since the 1990s, activist pressure in developed country markets has forced global apparel and footwear companies to adopt voluntary methods to ensure that their products are not made under sweatshop conditions. Companies developed codes of conduct for the first-tier factories in their supply chains and found ways to audit whether supplier factories were in compliance. However, this voluntary private-regulation model has not been adequate to alleviate labor and workplace concerns in global apparel supply chains. A shift from private regulation to public regulation—the beginning of which may be currently underway in the European Union with the recent introduction of mandatory due diligence legislation—may prove to be a more effective means of bettering labor rights and conditions. policy implications• If the recent EU legislation allows global companies to be legally liable for violations of mandatory due diligence requirements regarding labor rights and conditions in supply chains, a sea change in worker rights and labor practices could occur. • The new legislation would require global companies to adopt more responsible purchasing practices so that their practices are not responsible for labor violations. • The EU legislation could have an impact on sourcing locations, as companies compete for locations that are more likely to provide institutional environments with lower risk of violations. Global suppliers would have a greater incentive to take the high road in terms of employment practices to obtain more business from European buyers. National governments in apparel-exporting countries may be motivated to improve enforcement of labor regulations.

Transitioning the apparel supply chain to circular economy: a quantitative approach

This paper aims at exploring the potential of implementing circular economy in global supply chains, from the economic and environmental perspectives. The scientific community has revealed a growing interest in deepening the topic of global circular supply chain management, although literature based on quantitative studies is almost scant. This paper aims at filling some significant gaps by demonstrating that a transition to a circular supply chain not just leads to savings of emissions and natural resources, but it is also a driver to boost profitability. To this purpose, a real-life case-study of a global supply chain in the apparel industry has been modelled and simulations are conducted to quantitatively evaluate the benefits of three different circular supply chains implementing Reuse, Remanufacture and recycled processes over a traditional linear configuration. Results are obtained through a robust design of experiments and are validated via ANOVA test. According to the findings, a circular supply chain configuration can boost profitability by more than 5%, reducing at the same time the consumption of environmental resources by more than 10%.

Transparency in textile & apparel supply chains: a systematic review

Consumers and suppliers demand transparency in the textile and apparel industry due to increasing complexity, volatility, and competition in the global market. While research communities acknowledge the scarcity of publications in this domain, the number of related papers has surged by 122%. Nonetheless, existing reviews have primarily refrained from offering a comprehensive exploration of transparency within the broader context of textile and apparel supply chains. Consequently, a gap in systematic reviews focusing on transparency within this domain is evident. To fill this gap, our study aims to synthesise existing research on transparency in apparel and textile supply chains. To this end, we have structured our study into four research clusters derived from author-generated keywords in a carefully curated Scopus dataset. Furthermore, our study explores how transparency has evolved in textile and apparel supply chains, supported by these four clusters, which cover the following themes: 1) Sustainable approaches for transparency, 2) Supply chain perspective in transparency, 3) Implementing traceability for transparency and 4) Information transparency. Considering the insights gleaned from this comprehensive review, our study offers valuable insights and delineates potential directions for future research endeavours. These avenues for exploration can improve transparency in textile and apparel supply chains towards greater advancement and scholarly innovation.

Towards Industry 5.0 Challenges for The Textile and Apparel Supply Chain for The Smart, Sustainable, and Collaborative Industry in Emerging Economies

Towards Industry 5.0 Challenges for The Textile and Apparel Supply Chain for The Smart, Sustainable, and Collaborative Industry in Emerging Economies

Smart Containerization as a Determinant of Supply Chain Visibility in Sea Freight Cargo: A Case Study of Apparel Industry in Sri Lanka

As a prominent exporter, the apparel sector draws considerable attention in the Sri Lankan economy. As most apparel supply chain occurs through sea freight, there is a significant demand for more visibility for end-to-end movements. Due to technological innovations, smart containerization has become popular with the prevailing problems in apparel supply chains to enhance its visibility, reliability, and efficient demands. The study aims to understand the concept and the related influencing factors in enhancing the supply chain process performance. The study followed the qualitative approach, and the case study strategy was used by conducting in-depth interviews selecting six experienced professionals from the logistics & supply chain sector in the selected leading apparel export organization in Sri Lanka. NVivo software assisted in the transcript coding process of the analysis while deriving the influencing factors. The study explored technological, financial, and social avenues and influences as contributions to the inbound and outbound logistics process of the apparel industry.

Sub-suppliers’ Customer Share of Production and Sustainability Compliance in Apparel Supply Chains

Sub-suppliers’ Customer Share of Production and Sustainability Compliance in Apparel Supply Chains

What Makes Bangladeshi RMG Suppliers Resilient in Global Apparel Supply Chain Management?

The global Readymade Garments (RMG) industry heavily relies on global supply chain management that aims to seek suppliers offering affordable, high-quality products delivered quickly. However, research on the factors influencing supplier selection in the RMG sector is scarce, and existing models fail to explain the paradox of rising exports in Bangladesh despite supply chain disruptions. This research strived to pervade this knowledge gap through a mixed-method empirical study on 66 international clothing brands. The findings reveal a two-step supplier selection process involving enlistment in a qualified supplier pool and subsequent allocation of work orders within the pool. Supplier competence and competitiveness are critical for enlistment and order qualification, while supplier relationship, competitiveness, and competence influence the selection of order winners. Notably, larger companies prioritize relationships in supplier selection. International RMG buying companies should focus on supplier competence factors to mitigate supply chain risks and maintain positive public relations. For the same reason, Bangladeshi policymakers should enforce compliance and help RMG suppliers to gain competencies.

Beyond audit: the regulatory legitimacy of multi-stakeholder initiatives in the apparel sector

ABSTRACT This article is about multi-stakeholder initiatives that seek to regulate the human rights impacts of global apparel supply chains (Apparel MSIs). MSIs aim to improve human rights for millions of apparel workers worldwide, but after two decades they show little evidence of such improvement. Civil society critics argue that MSIs are an ineffective, unreformable model of private regulation. This article contends that a particularly pressing issue facing Apparel MSIs is the manner in which they seek to control their targets of regulation and ensure regulatory compliance. Most Apparel MSIs rely predominantly on social audit to monitor and ensure compliance with human rights standards. Yet there is now a strong body of evidence showing that social audit is an inherently flawed tool that is not sufficiently powerful to implement meaningful and consistent change. Accordingly, this article argues that Apparel MSIs must urgently move beyond social audit as a regulatory technique. They must instead pay attention to power relations and complex political contexts, amplify the voice of workers and harness complementarity between public and private regulation. Apparel MSIs must transform to improve effectiveness, preserve legitimacy and realise their ultimate aim of improving human rights outcomes for apparel sector workers.

Integration of RFID strategic value attributes mechanism decision in apparel supply chain: fuzzy AHP-TOPSIS approach

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify the radio frequency identification (RFID) strategic value attributes (RFIDSVAs) mechanism selections preferences and also integration of RFID tags with technology coordination tools (IRTWTCTs) alternatives ranking performance decisions in supply chain management (SCM). RFID-enabled techno-economic feasibility decisions are enhancing the SC visibility in apparel supply chains (ASCs). The RFIDSVAs mechanism selections have performed significant agility to strategic competitive advantages, namely, inventory visibility, multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third party, etc.Design/methodology/approachFuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) and FAHP-fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (FTOPSIS) approaches have been used to evaluate the quantitative assessment of RFIDSVA mechanisms selection decision based on weight priority orders and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection in ASC networks. The comparison of FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches to evaluate the integrated framework develop in RFIDSVAs mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions in Indian multi-tier ASC networks.FindingsThe result found that the FAHP-FTOPSIS approaches have used to prioritizing the RFIDSVA mechanism selection weights and also identify the IRTWTCTs alternatives ranking preferences order in apparel SCM. The comparison between the FAHP and FAHP-FTOPSIS approach to quantitative assessments from RFIDSVA mechanisms and IRTWTCTs alternatives selection decisions, which enable them SC agility potential across multi-tier visibility in ASC networks. ASC stakeholders can be benefited by techno-economic feasibility decisions, RFID-enabled shop floor activities, multi-tags ownerships transfer in SCs and knowledge-based cryptography tags/items separation in SCs.Research limitations/implicationsThe research work has considered only five RFIDSVA mechanisms and also three integration of RFIDTWTCTs alternatives in multi-tier ASC. The strategic competitive advantages are achieved by RFID-enabled break-even tags price decisions and also techno-economic feasibility decision by contractual design multi-tier SC stakeholder’s involvements.Practical implicationsThe pilot project study explores that the quantitative assessment decision has based on RFID-enable techno-economic feasibility in ASCs. Stakeholders can be benefited by inventory control of the financial losses, reducing the inventory inaccuracies and multi-tags ownership transfer within trusted third-party traceability in ASC networks.Originality/valueThis study explores the RFID-enabled apparel SC process and activities visibility (natural fibre’s fibre producer, fibre dyeing producer, yarn spinning producer, knitting and finishing producer).