Social Sustainability and the Textile Industry: New Directions in Sustainability Research

Between sweatshops, accusations of chemical pollution and use of endangered animal’s leather, the textile industry has been under scrutiny. Fashion brands have had to answer for unfair wages and inhumane working conditions, while the industry more broadly has been identified as a threat to the success of the global agenda on sustainable development. Considering the strategic importance of this industry, this letter proposes further research on the textile industry and its negative impacts on the planet and society through the lens of social sustainability. This creative and diverse industry has the potential to assist on other fronts like education, health, biological and cultural conservation. This letter begins with a brief overview of the environmental and social significance of global textile industry, and the definition of social sustainability. We then examine how social sustainability has been addressed in academic literature about the textile industry and conclude with opportunities for future research.