Collaborative consumption for small and medium-sized fashion enterprises in South Korea

Sustainability in the fashion industry is challenging due to numerous problems, which entail both complex production and consumption processes in a global context. Over the past decade, clothing consumption patterns have changed considerably, influenced by the disposable fast fashion phenomenon. In recent decades, the need to incorporate sustainability in business practices in the fashion industry has become increasingly clear. The concept of a “circular economy” (CE) has been promoted to highlight the need to find an alternative approach for recovering or regenerating resources for the maximum value of a garment’s life (WRAP 2016) . This concept has attracted increasing attention because of the need to reduce waste and optimize resource productivity while achieving a competitive advantage and reducing the negative environmental effects of clothing production and consumption (WRAP 2016).