Textile and Apparel Industries

Examining Circular Economy Applications for Sustainable Fashion in Asia: A Case Study Analysis

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Abstract

The purpose of the study is to investigate cases of the sustainable fashion industry in Asia that have implemented the circular economy (CE) principles, particularly the "3R" approach of renovation, reuse, and recycling. Two research questions were posed: 1) How has CE been utilized to establish a sustainable fashion industry in Asia? and 2) How do CE practices for sustainable fashion industry vary across Asian countries? For a case study China, Japan, and South Korea were chosen because they are economic leaders in Asia as well as key players in the global fashion industry. The findings highlight that three nations show the shared circumstances, including government assistance, fashion industry engagement, and the availability of supporting businesses to advance the sustainable fashion sector with the CE. The fashion sectors in the three countries similarly implement the CE practices using renovation, reuse, and recycling, which generates applicable guidelines for other Asian countries.

Keywords: renovation, reuse, recycling, sustainable fashion, Asia, circular economy, sustainability

How to Cite:

Cho, H. & Lee, S., (2024) “Examining Circular Economy Applications for Sustainable Fashion in Asia: A Case Study Analysis”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 80(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.17238