IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i20p13422-d945825.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Merchandising for Sustainable Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review

Author

Listed:
  • Bo Wu

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    China-Europe Institute of Fashion, Newton Business School, Shenzhen, 518000, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Xiufen Xie

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Weicheng Ke

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Huiying Bao

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Zhilan Duan

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Zhenyu Jin

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Xiaoqun Dai

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China)

  • Yan Hong

    (College of Textile and Clothing Engineering, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
    Department of Computing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong 999077, China)

Abstract

With the emergence of environmental pollution and the excessive waste of resources, the traditional development of the pure pursuit of economic growth has encountered challenges. More and more people are advocating for the concept of sustainable development, which makes sustainable merchandising an urgent necessity. Clothing brands should adhere to the brand sustainability concept and sustainable management in the merchandising process, which can truly improve the competitiveness of the brand. For this reason, a series of studies on sustainable merchandising strategies has been conducted by apparel companies and academia. The existing reviews on sustainability aspects focus on material, recycling, and life-cycle aspects. However, less attention has been paid to the sustainable merchandising aspects of apparel. Therefore, this paper presents a systematic literature review of this topic. We summarize the relevant research on sustainable merchandising from a merchandising perspective and systematically review the relevant theories and cases of sustainable merchandising for the relatively blank field of sustainable brand merchandising for apparel. We have achieved the purpose of integrating the analysis of factors influencing sustainable merchandising, and merchandising strategies. Additionally, on this basis, we discuss how brands can combine social responsibility with merchandising to develop and enjoy the profit space brought by merchandising while assuming and promoting their own brand responsibility. This literature review is based on journal articles, book chapters, and conference papers from the Web of Science (WOS) database and Google Scholar. Through an in-depth analysis of the existing literature, this paper provides an overview of the research topic, the sustainable merchandising of apparel, from a merchandising perspective and discusses the shortcomings of existing merchandising strategies. The findings reveal that there are drawbacks to the current apparel merchandising strategies such as low feasibility, ignoring the driving power of the market, weak consumer awareness, consumer culture, and lack of government intervention and support. This has resulted in the slow development of clothing brands in the sustainable merchandising market. The results of this study provide direction for the development of future sustainable merchandising strategies. It guides policymakers and practitioners to develop relevant strategies for sustainable merchandising in order to provide better market space for sustainable merchandising of apparel.

Suggested Citation

  • Bo Wu & Xiufen Xie & Weicheng Ke & Huiying Bao & Zhilan Duan & Zhenyu Jin & Xiaoqun Dai & Yan Hong, 2022. "Merchandising for Sustainable Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13422-:d:945825
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13422/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/20/13422/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Eunha Chun & Heerim Joung & Young Ju Lim & Eunju Ko, 2021. "Business transparency and willingness to act environmentally conscious behavior: Applying the sustainable fashion evaluation system “Higg Index”," Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(3), pages 437-452, July.
    2. Qing Li & Zhebin Xue & Yuhan Wu & Xianyi Zeng, 2022. "The Status Quo and Prospect of Sustainable Development of Smart Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-27, January.
    3. Jung, Jaesuk & Kim, Sang Jin & Kim, Kyung Hoon, 2020. "Sustainable marketing activities of traditional fashion market and brand loyalty," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 294-301.
    4. Melissa Monika Wagner & Tincuta Heinzel, 2020. "Human Perceptions of Recycled Textiles and Circular Fashion: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-28, December.
    5. Zobi Khan & Yongzhong Yang & Mohsin Shafi & Ruo Yang, 2019. "Role of Social Media Marketing Activities (SMMAs) in Apparel Brands Customer Response: A Moderated Mediation Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-19, September.
    6. Siti Hasnah Hassan & Jasmine A. L. Yeap & Nabil Hasan Al-Kumaim, 2022. "Sustainable Fashion Consumption: Advocating Philanthropic and Economic Motives in Clothing Disposal Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-17, February.
    7. Xiufen Xie & Yan Hong & Xianyi Zeng & Xiaoqun Dai & Melissa Wagner, 2021. "A Systematic Literature Review for the Recycling and Reuse of Wasted Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-20, December.
    8. Md Mehedi Hasan & Liling Cai & Xiaofen Ji & Francisca Margarita Ocran, 2022. "Eco-Friendly Clothing Market: A Study of Willingness to Purchase Organic Cotton Clothing in Bangladesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-13, April.
    9. Dayun Jeong & Eunju Ko, 2021. "The influence of consumers’ self-concept and perceived value on sustainable fashion," Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(4), pages 511-525, October.
    10. Sun, Yang & Garrett, Tony C. & Phau, Ian & Zheng, Bing, 2020. "Case-based models of customer-perceived sustainable marketing and its effect on perceived customer equity," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 615-622.
    11. Ngai, E.W.T & Chau, D.C.K. & Poon, J.K.L. & To, C.K.M., 2013. "Energy and utility management maturity model for sustainable manufacturing process," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 146(2), pages 453-464.
    12. Multala, Brendan & Wagner, Jeffrey & Wang, Yiwei, 2022. "Durability standards and clothing libraries for strengthening sustainable clothing markets," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 194(C).
    13. Ting, Hiram & Thaichon, Park & Chuah, Francis & Tan, Sharon Rebecca, 2019. "Consumer behaviour and disposition decisions: The why and how of smartphone disposition," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 212-220.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Zhujun Wang & Xuyuan Tao & Xianyi Zeng & Yingmei Xing & Zhenzhen Xu & Pascal Bruniaux, 2023. "A Machine Learning-Enhanced 3D Reverse Design Approach to Personalized Garments in Pursuit of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-21, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Najla Ibrahim Bin Hamdan, 2023. "A Survey of the Role of Charity Societies in Recycling Clothing Waste and the Extent of Their Societal Impact in Saudi Arabia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Subhasis Ray & Lipsa Nayak, 2023. "Marketing Sustainable Fashion: Trends and Future Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-28, April.
    3. Osmud Rahman & Dingtao Hu & Benjamin C. M. Fung, 2023. "A Systematic Literature Review of Fashion, Sustainability, and Consumption Using a Mixed Methods Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-37, August.
    4. Nuanphromsakul, Kajohnjak & Szczepańska-Woszczyna, Katarzyna & Kot, Sebastian & Chaveesuk, Singha & Chaiyasoonthorn, Wornchanok, 2022. "Sustainability of Rubber Farmers Cooperatives: Empirical Evaluation of Determining Factors," AGRIS on-line Papers in Economics and Informatics, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Faculty of Economics and Management, vol. 14(4), December.
    5. S.R. Patterson & E. Kozan & P. Hyland, 2016. "An integrated model of an open-pit coal mine: improving energy efficiency decisions," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(14), pages 4213-4227, July.
    6. Yi, Jisu & Lee, Youseok & Suh, Jungmin & Kim, Sang-Hoon, 2022. "Psychological determinants of non-attendees’ resistance toward performing arts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 690-699.
    7. Saddam A. Hazaea & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Khaldoon Albitar & Jinyu Zhu, 2023. "Internal Auditing in the Arab World: A Systematic Literature Review and Directions for Future Research," SAGE Open, , vol. 13(4), pages 21582440231, October.
    8. Leszek Butowski, 2021. "Sustainable Tourism: A Human-Centered Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    9. Jeong, Dayun & Ko, Eunju & Taylor, Charles R., 2023. "Don't touch the Merchandise! Factors associated with consumer preference for contact free shopping," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    10. Lee, Stacy H.N. & Chang, Hyo Jung (Julie) & Zhao, Li, 2023. "The importance of personal norms and situational expectancies to sustainable behaviors: The norm activation and situational expectancy-value theories," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    11. Perroni, Marcos G. & Gouvea da Costa, Sergio E. & Pinheiro de Lima, Edson & Vieira da Silva, Wesley & Tortato, Ubiratã, 2018. "Measuring energy performance: A process based approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 540-553.
    12. Rui Jorge Carreira & José Vasconcelos Ferreira & Ana Luísa Ramos, 2023. "The Consumer’s Role in the Transition to the Circular Economy: A State of the Art Based on a SLR with Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-19, October.
    13. Md Sajjad Hosain & Md Altab Hossin & Yin Xiaohua & Md Aktaruzzaman & Mohitul Ameen Ahmed Mustafi, 2020. "Social Networking Information and Pre-Employment Background Checks: The Mediating Role of Sustainable Organizational Reputation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    14. Mushahid Ali Shamsi & Imran Anwar & Asiya Chaudhary & Samreen Akhtar & Alam Ahmad, 2023. "Sustainable Transition through Circular Textile Products: An Empirical Study of Consumers’ Acceptance in India," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-20, September.
    15. Hyewon Lee, 2023. "The Dual Strategy for Textile and Fashion Production Using Clothing Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-20, July.
    16. Chen Pang & Jie Zhou & Xiaofen Ji, 2022. "The Effects of Chinese Consumers’ Brand Green Stereotypes on Purchasing Intention toward Upcycled Clothing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-18, December.
    17. Trianni, Andrea & Cagno, Enrico & Bertolotti, Matteo & Thollander, Patrik & Andersson, Elias, 2019. "Energy management: A practice-based assessment model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 1614-1636.
    18. Maria Teresa Cuomo & Pantea Foroudi & Debora Tortora & Shahzeb Hussain & T.C. Melewar, 2019. "Celebrity Endorsement and the Attitude Towards Luxury Brands for Sustainable Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-21, November.
    19. Alena Kusá & Marianna Urmínová, 2020. "Communication as a Part of Identity of Sustainable Subjects in Fashion," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-16, December.
    20. Haseli, Gholamreza & Yaran Ögel, İlkin & Ecer, Fatih & Hajiaghaei-Keshteli, Mostafa, 2023. "Luxury in female technology (FemTech): Selection of smart jewelry for women through BCM-MARCOS group decision-making framework with fuzzy ZE-numbers," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:20:p:13422-:d:945825. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.