Covid-19-Driven Societal Sustainability In The Apparel Supply Chain: Insight From Muslim-Majority Countries

doi:10.30659/ijibe.7.2.85-99

Study

SustainabilityHigh ImpactStrong effect

Brand Dominance and Unethical Practices Undermine Societal Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains

The concentration of power among a few dominant brands, coupled with exploitative subcontracting and a disregard for ethical business practices, significantly compromises the societal sustainability of the apparel supply chain.

International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics · 2022

01

Key Findings

01Dominant brands wield significant power, leading to a lack of societal sustainability.
02The use of contract workforces and illegal subcontracting disrupts compliance protocols.
03A lack of adherence to Islamic ethics in business operations results in poor labor conditions and insecurity.
04A sustainable procurement framework is needed to share disturbance risks.
05Prohibiting illegal subcontracting and adjusting order allocation/supplier selection are crucial for workforce security.

02

Application

Design takeaway

Prioritize ethical sourcing and fair labor practices by challenging dominant brand power, regulating subcontracting, and fostering collaborative relationships with worker advocacy groups to ensure societal sustainability.

How to apply

When designing products, consider the ethical implications of your supply chain. Investigate the power structures within your supply chain and advocate for fairer practices. Engage with suppliers to understand their labor conditions and explore opportunities for improvement.

Project actions

01When researching a product, look beyond just the materials and manufacturing process to understand the social impact on workers.
02Consider how brand influence can affect labor practices and explore ways to mitigate negative impacts.
03Investigate the role of cultural or religious ethics in shaping business practices and their effect on sustainability.

03

Method & Evidence

AimTo identify the root causes of societal sustainability deficiencies within the apparel supply chain in Muslim-majority countries and to propose actionable strategies for improvement.

MethodQualitative research

ProcedureExpert interviews were conducted to gather information on the causes of societal sustainability issues in the apparel supply chain and to develop improvement strategies.

ContextApparel supply chain in Muslim-majority countries

Variables

IV["Dominant brand power","Use of contract workforce and illegal subcontracting","Application of Islamic ethics in business"]

DV["Societal sustainability deficiency in the apparel supply chain","Labor conditions","Labor-societal security"]

CV["Muslim-majority country context","COVID-19 pandemic impact"]

04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

+Addresses a critical and timely issue of societal sustainability in a specific industry context.
+Offers practical strategies for improvement, including ethical considerations.
+Focuses on a unique cultural and religious context (Muslim-majority countries).

Limitations

The findings are specific to Muslim-majority countries and may not apply universally. The research relies on expert opinions, which might be biased.

Reliability & validity

The study's reliability and validity are primarily based on the depth and breadth of expert insights gathered through qualitative methods. Triangulation of findings from multiple experts would enhance reliability. The validity is strengthened by focusing on a specific context, but generalizability might be limited.

Think critically

How can designers actively challenge the power imbalances within supply chains to promote greater societal sustainability, even when faced with market pressures?

05

Design Principles

"Societal sustainability in supply chains is achieved through equitable power distribution, ethical labor practices, and collaborative stakeholder engagement."

Understanding these systemic issues is crucial for designers and businesses aiming to create more equitable and resilient supply chains. Addressing brand power imbalances and unethical labor practices can lead to improved worker welfare and long-term business stability.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Big clothing brands have too much power, and some companies use illegal subcontractors and don't treat workers fairly, which makes it hard for people working in these factories to have a stable life. This is especially true in countries with many Muslims, where not following religious business rules also causes problems. To fix this, brands need to share risks with suppliers, stop illegal subcontracting, and work with unions and charities to help communities.

How to use in your project

1.Use this research to justify the importance of ethical sourcing and fair labor practices in your design project's context.
2.Reference the findings on brand dominance and subcontracting to explain potential challenges in implementing sustainable practices.

07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

(2022). COVID-19-DRIVEN SOCIETAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN: INSIGHT FROM MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES. International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics. https://doi.org/10.30659/ijibe.7.2.85-99 Retrieved from https://designdex.org/study/f0eea17c-6e98-4743-a0f4-d86885cb1699/brand-dominance-and-unethical-practices-undermine-societal-sustainability-in-apparel-supply-chains

Paragraph starter

The apparel supply chain is vulnerable to societal sustainability issues, particularly in Muslim-majority countries, due to the significant power held by dominant brands and the prevalence of unethical subcontracting practices (Mousa et al., 2022). A lack of adherence to ethical business principles further exacerbates poor labor conditions and worker insecurity. To address these challenges, a sustainable procurement framework that shares disturbance risks and prohibits illegal subcontracting is essential, alongside adjusted order allocation plans that prioritize workforce societal security.

09

Source

International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics

COVID-19-DRIVEN SOCIETAL SUSTAINABILITY IN THE APPAREL SUPPLY CHAIN: INSIGHT FROM MUSLIM-MAJORITY COUNTRIES

journal · 2022

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Questions about this research

What does the research say about brand dominance and unethical practices undermine societal sustainability in apparel supply chains?: Prioritize ethical sourcing and fair labor practices by challenging dominant brand power, regulating subcontracting, and fostering collaborative relationships with worker advocacy groups to ensure societal sustainability. Evidence: International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics (2022).
Why does "Brand Dominance and Unethical Practices Undermine Societal Sustainability in Apparel Supply Chains" matter for design?: Understanding these systemic issues is crucial for designers and businesses aiming to create more equitable and resilient supply chains. Addressing brand power imbalances and unethical labor practices can lead to improved worker welfare and long-term business stability.
How can designers apply this research?: Prioritize ethical sourcing and fair labor practices by challenging dominant brand power, regulating subcontracting, and fostering collaborative relationships with worker advocacy groups to ensure societal sustainability.
What were the main findings?: Dominant brands wield significant power, leading to a lack of societal sustainability.. The use of contract workforces and illegal subcontracting disrupts compliance protocols.. A lack of adherence to Islamic ethics in business operations results in poor labor conditions and insecurity.. A sustainable procurement framework is needed to share disturbance risks.
What research method was used?: Qualitative research.
How strong is the evidence?: Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2022 journal from International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics.
What should I do differently in my next project?: When designing products, consider the ethical implications of your supply chain. Investigate the power structures within your supply chain and advocate for fairer practices. Engage with suppliers to understand their labor conditions and explore opportunities for improvement.
What are the limitations?: The study's focus on Muslim-majority countries may limit the generalizability of findings to other cultural or economic contexts. The qualitative nature of the research relies on expert opinions, which can be subjective.
Is there evidence that societal sustainability affects design outcomes?: The study found that powerful brands, exploitative subcontracting, and a lack of ethical business practices are key drivers of poor societal sustainability in apparel supply chains, particularly in Muslim-majority contexts. Solutions involve risk-sharing procurement, stricter subcontracting regulations, and collaborati Source: International Journal of Islamic Business Ethics (2022).
Where does this sustainability apparel research apply?: Apparel supply chain in Muslim-majority countries It sits within sustainability research on designdex.org.