SUSTAINABLE REDESIGN OF THE GLOBAL FASHION SYSTEM

 

Exploring the Organizational, Technological, and Socio-cultural Dimensions of Transformation 

A SPECIAL ISSUE OF  

SUSTAINABILITY: Science, Practice and Policy (SSPP) 

An Open Access Journal Edited by Taylor and Francis 

DEADLINE FOR EXTENDED ABSTRACT: JANUARY 15, 2021 (750 words) 

Overview

Global fashion, as part of the cultural and creative industries (CCI), represents a rich and advanced manifestation of contemporary culture and simultaneously embodies a complex and layered set of sociotechnical relationships. On one hand, fashion is a sophisticated expression of society widely perceived as a “cultural medium”, and pervading and informing social practices and dynamics. On the other hand, fashion is one of the oldest manufacturing sectors in Western countries, contributing to globalization processes, producing various deleterious effects through concurrent processes of cultural homogenization and impoverishment, as well as deeply affecting the quality of the environment to the point where today it is the second most polluting industry in the world. 

These two dimensions of fashion are currently colliding. The public has begun to demonstrate heightened awareness and new sensibilities have begun to change customers’ attitudes toward consumption choices, thus increasing the demand for transparency on the part of commercially visible brands. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has quickened ongoing transformation and overturned pre-existing commitments. The global fashion system—comprising both its facets of production and consumption along with its negative social and environmental consequences—is being critically questioned even by authoritative figures at the center of some of the most iconic and successful labels. 

Given these circumstances, this Special Issue strives to take advantage of this momentum and to link several disciplinary domains with the objective of exploring the organizational, technological, and sociocultural dimensions of transformation. 

The Special Issue welcome paper proposals addressing the following topics: 

1.   REDESIGNING THE FASHION SYSTEM, focusing on the organizational dimensions of fashion and its systemic transformation.  

2.   INNOVATING FASHION PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES, focusing on innovation and technological transformation of fashion products and processes.  

3.   RESHAPING FASHION CULTURES focusing on the sociocultural dimension of fashion and its transformation towards sustainability.  

DEADLINES 

• January 15, 2020: Submission of extended abstracts (approximately 750 words)  
• February 12, 2021: Notification of invited papers  
• April 16, 2021: Submission of full paper drafts (approximately 8.000 words)  
• May 21, 2021: Completion of first round of peer review  
• June 30, 2021: Submission of revised drafts  
• July 15, 2021: Completion of second round of peer review  
• September 1, 2021: Submission of final drafts  

How to send the extended abstract proposal: 

Extended abstracts should be sent by January 15 2021 to both Paola Bertola (paola.bertola@polimi.it) and Chiara Colombi (chiara.colombi@polimi.it).  

Subject of the mail: SSPP – SUSTAINABLE REDESIGN OF THE GLOBAL FASHION SYSTEM 

Please indicate in the mail which of the 3 topics your proposal is addressing (see above) 

OPEN ACCESS POLICY FOR THIS ISSUE 

This Special Issue of Sustainability: Science, Practice, and Policy will be an open-source publication and authors of invited papers will be able to participate without the need to pay an author publication fee (APC). All contributions will be sponsored by the Fashion in Process Research Laboratory (FiP) at the Politecnico di Milano which is a neutral platform for knowledge exchange and dissemination. 

Full details on the call are in the attached file.