Sustainability in the fashion industry: A review of eco-friendly practices in apparel retailing

Subhash Kumar Verma; Jyoti Ranjan Das; Raja Sankaran; Vinima Gambhir; Madhur Taneja; Mohan Garg

doi:10.31893/multirev.2025ss0327

Keywords:

circular fashion

consumer engagement

eco-friendly plastics

sustainable fashion

machine learning (ML)

apparel retailing

Abstract

Sustainability is becoming increasingly important in light of the significant societal and global issues that the fashion industry is facing. This review explores eco-friendly practices in apparel retail, focusing on materials, production processes, circular fashion, supply chains, and consumer engagement to reduce the industry's negative impact. The objective is to analyze these practices and identify effective strategies that apparel retailers can adopt. However, this review is limited by the availability of comprehensive global data and the rapidly evolving nature of technologies and regulations. Machine learning and deep learning methods are increasingly being utilized to enhance supply chain transparency, optimize production processes, and predict consumer behavior, contributing to more sustainable practices. Through a comprehensive analysis of market trends, the review revealed that sustainable practices can greatly benefit the environment, economy, and society. Despite challenges such as scalability, greenwashing, and the need for collaboration among stakeholders, integrating revolutionary technologies such as deep learning (DL) and machine learning (ML) is crucial for substantial progress in a sustainable manner.
References
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20. Pérez, A., Collado, J., & Liu, M. T. (2022). Social and environmental concerns within ethical fashion: General consumer cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 26(5), 792–812. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-04-2021-0088
21. Pranta, A. D., Rahaman, M. T., Repon, M. R., & Shikder, A. A. R. (2024). Environmentally sustainable apparel merchandising of recycled cotton–polyester blended garments: Analysis of consumer preferences and purchasing behaviors. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 10(3), 100357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100357
22. Satinet, C., & Fouss, F. (2022). A supervised machine learning classification framework for clothing products’ sustainability. Sustainability, 14(3), 1334. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031334
23. Sinha, P., Sharma, M., & Agrawal, R. (2023). A systematic review and future research agenda for sustainable fashion in the apparel industry. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 30(9), 3482–3507. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-02-2022-0142
24. Thorisdottir, T. S., & Johannsdottir, L. (2020). Corporate social responsibility influencing sustainability within the fashion industry: A systematic review. Sustainability, 12(21), 9167. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219167
25. Tran, K., Nguyen, T., Tran, Y., Nguyen, A., Luu, K., & Nguyen, Y. (2022). Eco-friendly fashion among generation Z: Mixed-methods study on price value image, customer fulfillment, and pro-environmental behavior. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272789. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272789
26. Younus, M., Pathan, S. H., Amin, M. R., Tania, I., & Ouboucetta, R. (2024). Sustainable fashion analytics: Predicting the future of eco-friendly textile. Global Mainstream Journal of Business, Economics, Development & Project Management, 3(3), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.62304/jbedpm.v3i03.85

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

How to cite

Verma, S. K., Das, J. R., Sankaran, R., Gambhir, V., Taneja, M., & Garg, M. (2025). Sustainability in the fashion industry: A review of eco-friendly practices in apparel retailing. Multidisciplinary Reviews, 8, 2025ss0327. https://doi.org/10.31893/multirev.2025ss0327

[1] Abbate, S., Centobelli, P., Cerchione, R., Nadeem, S. P., & Riccio, E. (2024). Sustainability trends and gaps in the textile, apparel and fashion industries. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 26(2), 2837–2864. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02887-2

[2] Abrishami, S., Shirali, A., Sharples, N., Kartal, G. E., Macintyre, L., & Doustdar, O. (2024). Textile recycling and recovery: An eco-friendly perspective on textile and garment industries challenges. Textile Research Journal, 94(23–24), 2815–2834. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175241247806

[3] Badhwar, A., Islam, S., Tan, C. S. L., Panwar, T., Wigley, S., & Nayak, R. (2024). Unraveling green marketing and greenwashing: A systematic review in the context of the fashion and textiles industry. Sustainability, 16(7), 2738. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072738

[4] Balasubramanian, M., & Sheykhmaleki, P. (2024). Comprehending the consumer behavior toward sustainable apparel. Sustainability, 16(18), 8026. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16188026

[5] Busalim, A., Fox, G., & Lynn, T. (2022). Consumer behavior in sustainable fashion: A systematic literature review and future research agenda. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 46(5), 1804–1828. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12794

[6] Byrd, K., & Su, J. (2021). Investigating consumer behaviour for environmental, sustainable and social apparel. International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, 33(3), 336–352. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCST-03-2020-0040

[7] Chakraborty, S., Hoque, M. S., Rahman Jeem, N., Biswas, M. C., Bardhan, D., & Lobaton, E. (2021). Fashion recommendation systems, models and methods: A review. Informatics, 8(3), 49. https://doi.org/10.3390/informatics8030049

[8] Chowdhury, N. R., Chowdhury, P., & Paul, S. K. (2022). Sustainable practices and their antecedents in the apparel industry: A review. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 37, 100674. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2022.100674

[9] Dissanayake, D. G. K., & Weerasinghe, D. (2022). Towards circular economy in fashion: Review of strategies, barriers and enablers. Circular Economy and Sustainability, 2(1), 25–45. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-021-00090-5

[10] Giri, C., & Chen, Y. (2022). Deep learning for demand forecasting in the fashion and apparel retail industry. Forecasting, 4(2), 565–581. https://doi.org/10.3390/forecast4020031

[11] Gul, S., & Ahmed, W. (2024). Enhancing the theory of planned behavior with perceived consumer effectiveness and environmental concern towards pro-environmental purchase intentions for eco-friendly apparel: A review article. Bulletin of Business and Economics, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00270

[12] Huskey, M., & Cho, E. (2022). Exploring small fashion retailers’ green efforts in supply chain management and coping strategies during COVID-19. Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, 114(4), 16–27. https://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS114.4.16

[13] Islam, M. M., Perry, P., & Gill, S. (2021). Mapping environmentally sustainable practices in textiles, apparel and fashion industries: A systematic literature review. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 25(2), 331–353. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-07-2020-0130

[14] Leal Filho, W., Dinis, M. A. P., Liakh, O., Paço, A., Dennis, K., Shollo, F., & Sidsaph, H. (2024). Reducing the carbon footprint of the textile sector: An overview of impacts and solutions. Textile Research Journal, 94(15–16), 1798–1814. https://doi.org/10.1177/00405175241236971

[15] Mandarić, D., Hunjet, A., & Vuković, D. (2022). The impact of fashion brand sustainability on consumer purchasing decisions. Journal of Risk and Financial Management, 15(4), 176. https://doi.org/10.3390/jrfm15040176

[16] Meegoda, J. N., Watts, D., Hsieh, H. N., & Bezerra de Souza, B. (2021). Community-based pollution prevention for two urban cities: A case study. Clean Technologies, 3(1), 59–78. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol3010004

[17] Minh, N. T., & Ngan, H. N. (2021). Vegan leather: An eco-friendly material for sustainable fashion towards environmental awareness. AIP Conference Proceedings, 2406(1), 060019. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0066483

[18] Neupane, S., Chimhundu, R., & Kong, E. (2021). Strategic profile for positioning eco-apparel among mainstream apparel consumers. Journal of Global Fashion Marketing, 12(3), 229–244. https://doi.org/10.1080/20932685.2021.1915836

[19] Paço, A., Leal Filho, W., Ávila, L. V., & Dennis, K. (2021). Fostering sustainable consumer behavior regarding clothing: Assessing trends on purchases, recycling, and disposal. Textile Research Journal, 91(3–4), 373–384. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040517520944524

[20] Pérez, A., Collado, J., & Liu, M. T. (2022). Social and environmental concerns within ethical fashion: General consumer cognitions, attitudes, and behaviors. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, 26(5), 792–812. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-04-2021-0088

[21] Pranta, A. D., Rahaman, M. T., Repon, M. R., & Shikder, A. A. R. (2024). Environmentally sustainable apparel merchandising of recycled cotton–polyester blended garments: Analysis of consumer preferences and purchasing behaviors. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 10(3), 100357. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2024.100357

[22] Satinet, C., & Fouss, F. (2022). A supervised machine learning classification framework for clothing products’ sustainability. Sustainability, 14(3), 1334. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031334

[23] Sinha, P., Sharma, M., & Agrawal, R. (2023). A systematic review and future research agenda for sustainable fashion in the apparel industry. Benchmarking: An International Journal, 30(9), 3482–3507. https://doi.org/10.1108/BIJ-02-2022-0142

[24] Thorisdottir, T. S., & Johannsdottir, L. (2020). Corporate social responsibility influencing sustainability within the fashion industry: A systematic review. Sustainability, 12(21), 9167. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12219167

[25] Tran, K., Nguyen, T., Tran, Y., Nguyen, A., Luu, K., & Nguyen, Y. (2022). Eco-friendly fashion among generation Z: Mixed-methods study on price value image, customer fulfillment, and pro-environmental behavior. PLOS ONE, 17(8), e0272789. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0272789

[26] Younus, M., Pathan, S. H., Amin, M. R., Tania, I., & Ouboucetta, R. (2024). Sustainable fashion analytics: Predicting the future of eco-friendly textile. Global Mainstream Journal of Business, Economics, Development & Project Management, 3(3), 13–26. https://doi.org/10.62304/jbedpm.v3i03.85

Abstract

References

How to cite