Moving Fashion Forward: A Balance of Profit and Purpose

In recent months the world has felt the effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The apparel industry, specifically, has been disrupted to an unprecedented extent. Sales have plummeted as a result of quarantine restrictions and financial distress amongst consumers; leading to an increase of excess inventory and the implementation of sales/discounted rates in order to create demand. Additionally, nearly all production has come to a halt as a result of disruption in global trade; leaving many jobless. The industry has even seen large companies filing for bankruptcy. These times have demonstrated that the current supply chain is significantly fragile and can easily be broken. For this reason alone, it has proven it is unsustainable. With the world at a standstill, the apparel industry has the opportunity to rethink and reinvent business entirely. This conceptual paper will analyze and describe examples of: 1) supply chain and production practices and their social and environmental impact; 2) leading brands and their progress in implementing and promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); and 3) policy recommendations to resolve conflicts preventing sustainable development.