Towards sustainability: a bibliometric study on advances in textile research

The textile business has unquestionably been one of the greatest economic sectors for a long time, and it will continue to be so in the future. At the same time, this industry is the least sustainable due to its negative environmental and social consequences. This bibliometric analysis explores the trend and focal area of research on Sustainable Textiles by reviewing published literature from 2001 to 2023. The study examined yearly outputs, citations, mainstream journals, Web of Science categories, top countries and institutions, research trends, and hotspots to evaluate publication success. Using the paper’s title, author keywords, and keyword-plus analysis, the study attempts to provide insights into the present status of research in this field as well as indicate potential future research areas. This study is an attempt to examine the potential of sustainable practices in textiles, as well as the landscape of previous studies in this domain. Studies in this sector began to acquire popularity one and a half decades ago, and they have continued to climb year after year, indicating an increasing interest among researchers. The study identifies key areas of focus within the field, including wastewater management and energy consumption in the fashion industry, with an evolving emphasis on supply chain management, the circular economy, and recycling. While earlier research predominantly centered on environmental sustainability and resource consumption, emerging trends reveal a growing interest in integrating supply chain dynamics, circular economic practices, and social sustainability, reflecting a broader and more holistic approach to sustainable development in the industry.