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Designing Sustainability Today: An Analytical Framework for a Design for Sustainability Model in European Fashion and Furniture Industries

Author

Listed:
  • Erminia D’Itria

    (Design Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milano, Italy)

  • Xue Pei

    (Design Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milano, Italy)

  • Paola Bertola

    (Design Department, Politecnico di Milano, 20158 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

The proposed article addresses pressing sustainability challenges, advocating for a profound transformation of existing development models, particularly emphasizing sustainable production and lifestyles. Utilizing a research method grounded in a comprehensive international knowledge base, the study explores the evolution of design for sustainability (DfS) approaches. Its significant contribution lies in systematically investigating connections among diverse DfS approaches, providing an initial framework for situating practices within the fashion and furniture industries. The research outcomes obtained iteratively involve mapping design-driven sustainability practices in European fashion and furniture companies. This mapping reveals a transition from a product-centric to an organization-centered design perspective, calling for a holistic ecosystemic framework to revolutionize business operations. The article analyzes contemporary design-driven practices, proposing an interpretative model that identifies ongoing practices fostering incremental changes toward sustainability guided by design. Furthermore, the article outlines a three-stage design-driven sustainability continuum, synthesizing potential future trajectories. Beyond contributing to the understanding of current practices, the research provides insights into future possibilities, highlighting the transformative role of design in reshaping consumeristic systems. Ultimately, the study offers valuable insights into the transformative power of design, paving the way for sustainable business practices in the fashion and furniture industries.

Suggested Citation

  • Erminia D’Itria & Xue Pei & Paola Bertola, 2024. "Designing Sustainability Today: An Analytical Framework for a Design for Sustainability Model in European Fashion and Furniture Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-38, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:8:p:3240-:d:1374820
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rahul Kapoor, 2018. "Ecosystems: broadening the locus of value creation," Journal of Organization Design, Springer;Organizational Design Community, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, December.
    2. Chiara Battistoni & Carolina Giraldo Nohra & Silvia Barbero, 2019. "A Systemic Design Method to Approach Future Complex Scenarios and Research Towards Sustainability: A Holistic Diagnosis Tool," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-30, August.
    3. Oh, Deog-Seong & Phillips, Fred & Park, Sehee & Lee, Eunghyun, 2016. "Innovation ecosystems: A critical examination," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1-6.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yi Huang & Xiang Li & Feng Gan & Tianwei Gu, 2024. "Research on Sustainable Intelligent Drying Wardrobe Design Strategy Based on Importance–Performance Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-18, December.
    2. Jhon Wilder Zartha Sossa & Luis Horacio Botero Montoya & Juan Carlos Palacio Piedrahíta & Julio González Candia & Luis Fernando Gutiérrez Cano & Gina Lía Orozco Mendoza & Nolberto Gutiérrez Posada & R, 2025. "Sustainable Innovation Management Model (MGI) for Agro-Industrial Citrus Chain," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-26, May.
    3. Danijela Domljan & Nikola Lukež & Zoran Vlaović, 2025. "Sustainable Furniture Design for Rural Tourist Accommodation Inspired by the Heritage of Istria," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-30, February.
    4. Xue Zhang & Yu Zhang, 2025. "Mapping the Research Agenda for Sustainable Fashion Design: Constructing Knowledge Maps Through Bibliometric Analysis and LDA Machine Learning," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(3), pages 21582440251, September.

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