Ashiq, R. orcid.org/0000-0002-1262-9848 (2024) Weaving a Sustainable Future for Fashion: The Role of Social Enterprises in East London. Sustainability, 16 (16). 7152. ISSN 2071-1050
Abstract
This study investigates how social enterprises in East London drive sustainability in the fashion industry, focusing on the following two case studies: Making for Change and Stitches in Time. The research uses the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework and social capital theory to assess how these enterprises integrate TBL principles and leverage social capital to promote sustainable practices. The qualitative exploratory study generates hypotheses proposing that East London-based social enterprises employ diverse TBL strategies to advance sustainability (H1) and utilise social capital through networks and community ties to support their initiatives (H2). Data collected through interviews and focus groups confirm that these enterprises effectively address social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. However, balancing these dimensions, especially economic sustainability, remains challenging and often varies depending on organisational objectives. The study also emphasises social capital’s key role in enhancing internal cohesion and facilitating external collaborations. The research deepens our understanding of how social enterprises can drive sustainable development by providing evidence-based insights within an underrepresented context of the UK. Using social enterprises as exemplars, these insights could potentially guide the transition of the UK fashion industry towards more sustainable practices.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2024 by the author. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC-BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | fashion; sustainability; triple bottom line; social capital; social enterprises; East London |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Cultures (Leeds) > School of Design (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 13 Nov 2024 15:30 |
Last Modified: | 13 Nov 2024 15:30 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | MDPI |
Identification Number: | 10.3390/su16167152 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:219576 |