Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands
| dc.contributor.advisor | Meyer, Camille | |
| dc.contributor.author | Dupont, Hadrien | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-07T09:55:12Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-07T09:55:12Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2025-02-07T09:52:25Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | The fashion industry is globally recognized as one of the major polluters, causing significant environmental and social concerns. Its complex value chain, from the intensive non-renewable resource use during raw material acquisition to human rights issues in manufacturing, and its unsustainable end-of-life solutions, underscores an industry struggling with profound challenges. In response to these challenges, the notion of a circular economy emerges as a transformative approach to reimagine and redesign production and consumption cycles, aiming to retain product value, reduce waste, and foster sustainability. The central research question of this study is the following: "What are the key challenges and opportunities for micro and small-sized fashion brands in adopting a successful circular business model?" Addressing this, the research provides a deep dive into the concept of circularity within the fashion sector, specifically focusing on French micro and small-sized brands. These brands, a blend of those organically born with sustainable principles and those that have adeptly transitioned towards sustainable practices, offer a diverse palette of innovative strategies. They encompass distinctive sustainable practices ranging from upcycling, promoting second-hand fashion, adhering to sustainable production methodologies, to the use of recycled fabrics. Utilizing qualitative methodologies, this research adopted a comparative approach, interviewing 12 such distinctive brands alongside a consultant specializing in second-hand fashion. This method depicted a rich, multifaceted perspective on the challenges intrinsic to circular business models in the fashion domain. From this exploration, the findings were clustered into three predominant categories: striking a balance between economic viability, ecological responsibility, and social equity; identifying and leveraging driving factors while recognizing potential opportunities; and understanding and navigating barriers that hinder circular adoption. This study stands as an important contribution to existing literature, providing a nuanced roadmap specifically tailored for French micro and small-sized brands. Its insights illuminate pathways, guiding these brands towards the successful adoption and nuanced implementation of circular business models among a challenging industry context. | |
| dc.identifier.apacitation | Dupont, H. (2024). <i>Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands</i>. (). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Business (GSB). Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.chicagocitation | Dupont, Hadrien. <i>"Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands."</i> ., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Business (GSB), 2024. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.citation | Dupont, H. 2024. Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands. . University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Business (GSB). http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.ris | TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Dupont, Hadrien AB - The fashion industry is globally recognized as one of the major polluters, causing significant environmental and social concerns. Its complex value chain, from the intensive non-renewable resource use during raw material acquisition to human rights issues in manufacturing, and its unsustainable end-of-life solutions, underscores an industry struggling with profound challenges. In response to these challenges, the notion of a circular economy emerges as a transformative approach to reimagine and redesign production and consumption cycles, aiming to retain product value, reduce waste, and foster sustainability. The central research question of this study is the following: "What are the key challenges and opportunities for micro and small-sized fashion brands in adopting a successful circular business model?" Addressing this, the research provides a deep dive into the concept of circularity within the fashion sector, specifically focusing on French micro and small-sized brands. These brands, a blend of those organically born with sustainable principles and those that have adeptly transitioned towards sustainable practices, offer a diverse palette of innovative strategies. They encompass distinctive sustainable practices ranging from upcycling, promoting second-hand fashion, adhering to sustainable production methodologies, to the use of recycled fabrics. Utilizing qualitative methodologies, this research adopted a comparative approach, interviewing 12 such distinctive brands alongside a consultant specializing in second-hand fashion. This method depicted a rich, multifaceted perspective on the challenges intrinsic to circular business models in the fashion domain. From this exploration, the findings were clustered into three predominant categories: striking a balance between economic viability, ecological responsibility, and social equity; identifying and leveraging driving factors while recognizing potential opportunities; and understanding and navigating barriers that hinder circular adoption. This study stands as an important contribution to existing literature, providing a nuanced roadmap specifically tailored for French micro and small-sized brands. Its insights illuminate pathways, guiding these brands towards the successful adoption and nuanced implementation of circular business models among a challenging industry context. DA - 2024 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town KW - fashion industry LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2024 T1 - Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands TI - Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 ER - | en_ZA |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 | |
| dc.identifier.vancouvercitation | Dupont H. Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands. []. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,Graduate School of Business (GSB), 2024 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/40886 | en_ZA |
| dc.language.rfc3066 | eng | |
| dc.publisher.department | Graduate School of Business (GSB) | |
| dc.publisher.faculty | Faculty of Commerce | |
| dc.publisher.institution | University of Cape Town | |
| dc.subject | fashion industry | |
| dc.title | Circular economy of fashion: benefits and challenges for French micro and small brands | |
| dc.type | Thesis / Dissertation | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | Masters | |
| dc.type.qualificationlevel | MA |