Sustainable fashion: challenges and perspectives to enhance products’ visibility, distribution requirements and accessibility to the market
At the Institute for Ethical Fashion and Ecological Consumption (MECE), we believe that knowledge-sharing is key to transforming the fashion industry. Thus we are excited to announce a special issue in collaboration with the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, focusing on the challenges and perspectives around the visibility of sustainable fashion products on the market. As the fashion industry faces increasing pressure to respond to the climate emergency, this special issue seeks to address critical challenges, explore innovative solutions, and highlight perspectives on making sustainable fashion more accessible to consumers.
Why This Special Issue Matters
Despite growing awareness of the climate crisis, the fashion sector has yet to undergo significant transformation. In the Anthropocene era, it is urgent for the sustainable fashion offer to play a larger role in the marketplace. A key challenge lies in helping consumers easily identify sustainable products in stores. This special issue will examine the evolving landscape of distribution channels, with a particular focus on the role of SMEs and startups in promoting sustainable fashion.
Key Topics for Submission
We invite academics, researchers, and industry professionals to submit papers that offer insights on how to enhance the visibility and accessibility of sustainable fashion. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
- What distribution channels and formats are suitable for sustainable fashion products? And how are sustainable logistics promoted?
- What are the difficulties that SMEs and start-ups might face in distributing their products?
- How can the point of sale and merchandising help to communicate the values of sustainability and promote virtuous practices in fashion (repair, hire, recycling, sobriety, etc.)?
- How to encourage a positive and sustainable customer experience in stores ?
- How do collaborative second-hand platforms contribute to the sustainability of fashion? What are their limits? To what extend do they generate circular rebound effects?
- What pricing strategies should retailers adopt and how can issues of fairness and transparency be incorporated into pricing strategies?
- What is the role of technology and innovation in promoting sustainable fashion products and what are the characteristics of the distribution of sustainable luxury products?
- How can start-ups improve the accessibility of sustainable fashion products through creative marketing strategies and the use of digital platforms? How can they contribute to open innovation in collaboration with mass retailers?
Submission Details and Timeline
This special issue is managed by leading academics in the field, Sihem Dekhili, Director of ESSCA’s MECE Institute, and Karim Messeghem, University of Montpellier.
Submission deadline date: 17 March 2025
To view the full call for papers and submission guidelines, please visit the International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management.
