The Ethical Consumerism in the Textile and Clothing Industry - Coursework Example

LITERATURE REVIEW OF ETHICAL ISSUES IN CLOTHING INDUSTRY (Student Name) (Course No.) (Lecturer) (University) (Date) Introduction One of the topics that are being debated worldwide is the clothing and textile industry; this is because of the unethical conditions that are being experienced in the productions. The results of the ethical consumerism in the textile and clothing industry that have been experienced over the past years are the increasing number of clothing manufacturers who are referred to as the fair trade certified. Ethics in within the context of the textile industry continues to be manifested in different ways. Some of the most common expression of ethical values within this industry include engaging in products which are friendly to the environment, engaging in better methods of production, adopting positive standards and policies of labor within the industry, adopting acceptable wage policy as well as positive and better working conditions for the employees (Barnes & Lea- Greenwood 2010). The need to recognize and uphold the human rights has been a driving force towards improving and adopting ethical activities within the textile industry. Modern developments remain as one of the milestones for adopting and improving the ethical consideration. One fundamental phenomenon which has been widely considered in the textile and which also supports ethics in trade is referred to as Ethical consumerism. The consumer is the focal point of attention of this phenomenon which aims at considering better and modern ethical activities so as to benefit the consumers within this industry. This paper intends to determine the perception developed by the consumers in regard to ethical manufacturing of sweatshops and child labor eco-fashion. The research seeks to rely on the secondary data contained within the literature. Therefore, the review of the literature will form the methodological focus of this study. Ethical issues within the textile industry The textile industry has been regarded as one of the fast-growing and dynamic industries in the world. The modern textile industry cannot be compared to that which existed way back in 19th century. Immense issues have affected the manner in which such industries operate and the kind of outcomes expected from their activities. The same has equally been witnessed among the modern consumers who have become more aware of the kind of products which they expect. In the past, the textile industry has witnessed several issues some who have a negative effect on the progress of development. For example, the notable collapse of Rana Plaza which is situated in Bangladesh led to a lot of damage and ended up killing many people (Carter & Jennings 2012). The other notable industry regards the one which collapsed in Mumbai. One feature which has characterized most of the collapsing industries is due to their insignificant social responsibility, especially to their stakeholders. The stakeholders within the textile industries have been seen as important and critical decision makers who can make a company progress or otherwise collapse depending on the way they are handled and treated by the specific company. Therefore, most of these companies ended up collapsing due to lack of social responsibility framework to promote their activities. Consumers, equally, have been aware of the need for social responsibility and ethical practices for the company. Research studies indicate that most consumers have little concern as to whether a particular company engaged in ethical practices or otherwise. Most consumers actually have little knowledge of what constitutes an ethical practice. They simply require identifying a particular company and engaging in trade without much consideration on the impact of ethical or non-ethical activities being perpetrated by the particular company. In fact, some consumers till engage in trade with companies that have been deemed and declared as non-ethical. One of the most common reasons given to explain this unprecedented action by the consumers is a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the kind of activities done by such companies. Most of the consumers lack sufficient knowledge regarding the activities done by these companies especially those done during the processes of production. Therefore, most of the consumers act in the light of little knowledge. On the other hand, some consumers assert that they continue to engage in trade with such unethical companies since they find it difficult to among products that they have purchased over time. Many assert that they have much preference and attention for other things such as the price of the product, quality and value of such products which are manufactured and sold by the companies. The elements considered by the present consumers are issues to do with the product price and quality. Once they are satisfied with these key product aspects, they simply engage in purchase with little or no focus on the ethical or non-ethical activities done by the respective companies. This has been seen as one of the aspects that have promoted the unethical companies to engage and continue with their practices since their activities have little attention and have little consideration for the consumers. The study, however, revealed that in the case where the unethical activity has direct negative impact on the consumer, then there are likely to be concerned and make retracted decisions. Some activities usually have direct or indirect implication to the immediate consumers. However, most unethical behaviors have direct impacts on the consumers, especially within the textile industry. In cases where such unethical activities have direct negative implications, the consumers are seen to be much interested in understanding this unethical behavior. Studies agree that consumers tend to change their purchasing patterns when they have full information of the negative implication of the unethical activities perpetrated by a company into their lives. The most common case is when the information about ethical or unethical activities have been hidden or not exposed to these consumers forcing them to have a more macro view of the entire situation (Carter & Jennings 2012). How marketing managers use ethical theories The Fast fashion concept theory The concept of Fast Fashion is one of the most relevant concepts in the textile industry. It is one of the techniques used by the retailers to enable them to have the present and latest products rapidly into their stock. The textile industry is highly influenced and affected by style and fashion. Every season has a need of style or fashion preferred and required by the consumers or users of such products. Therefore, Fast Fashion is highly cognizant of the need for fashion and present changes within the industry. One feature of Fast Fashion regards the aspect of diminishing lead-times. This concept enables the retailers to offer the produce to the shoppers within the required time. Usually, the designers have such recognition of the seasonal changes of fashion (Chakraborty & Chakraborty 2014). The kind of attire produced by the fashion designers is aimed to satisfy and diminish the time it takes for the consumers to get their products and also ensure that the fashions designed are within the present season. Therefore, Fast Fashion has been regarded as a concept which intends to reduce the purchase cycle for the products and also diminishes the lead-time taken for consumers to get new products to the store. This ultimately fulfills the interests of the buyers and achieves buyer’s satisfaction. The concept of Fast Fashion is premised on the need of ensuring quick and prompt furnishing of the retail store with the latest and present products. The life-cycle of the textile products are usually short consideration the changes in consumer preferences and the fast-changing fashion industry. The time taken for such products need to be as short as possible so as to ensure that the stock are moving and the delivery time taken by the retailers is reduced as much as possible. The other feature which defines the Fast Fashion relates to the order time taken after the customers have made and inquiry and subsequent order for the products. Usually, the textile industry witnesses promote orders made by various consumers to retailers seeking the supply and delivery of a certain number of products in fashion (Turker & Altuntas 2014). The order period taken before delivering the supply is quite important since it dictates if the retailers would possible make profits or losses. Therefore, Fast Fashion is quite interested in diminishing the order time taken and ensuring that the retailers make promote supply and satisfy the order requirements made by the customers. The inclination of design and appearance has enhanced, and purchasers are more requesting than in the old circumstances. Customers have gotten to progressively design cognizant, and in this manner, the measure of the form advertises has extended. The development of modern advertisement mechanisms has created a large potential customer base with many people relying on the fashion magazines and advertisement journals. A lot of interest has been created by the retailers who often prefer advertising their products through the periodical magazines. Therefore, the fashion trends can easily be displayed in these magazines and be monitored over time. This method of creating fashion awareness has been often used by big names within the industry which need to expand their market share and take a leading position in the fashion world. Consequently, there has been a significant improvement in the order patterns and adoption of new models and styles using the advertisement mechanisms (Chakraborty & Chakraborty 2014). Big name patterns are likewise critical in the mold business since buyer takes a gander at them as style consultants. Week by week magazines and day by day TV-indicates drives the shopper request which brings about more as often as possible positive buying trends. In addition, it brings about the purchasers’ hope to realize present items available every time they go out shopping. Quick mold relies on the ability to match on patterns and is in this way emphatically connected to inventory network administration and fast reaction (Choi 2013). This is a standout amongst the most critical hypotheses that advertising directors ought to receive. Time and supply chain theory Time is one of the significant aspects for consideration in the textile industry. This is the case since the textile products are highly influenced by time and usually rely on the fashion changes for purposes of relevance. The time taken to deliver the textile merchandise to the market for prospective buyers needs to be as short as possible. It’s understood that the life-cycle of the textile products is highly affected by time and that fashion dictates the patterns of purchasing in the industry. Therefore, the lead-time taken for such products to be available in the market requires being shortened. Shortening the lead time is equally essential for administrators to effectively react to any changes occurring within the market (Sheridan et al. 2006). The administrators are in this way compelled to study showcase drifts in order to remain on among their rivals through legitimate promoting and notice. Patterns help in making benefits to be conceivable. Be that as it may, it can likewise prompt to an abnormal state of the stock and the drive of value lessening if the item is not acquainted with the market at the perfect time. In late decades, design items were not accessible to the clients until the season after the real pattern. The time taken to reach the customers was relatively long. However, the modern industry has seen the shortening and reduction of time quite considerably (Choi 2013). The reduction in the lead-time has seen the textile companies able to meet the growing customer demands in the right and opportune time without experiencing much delay. Supply Chain management theory The supply chain within the textile industry has been affected by the life cycle of the textile products which are manufactured and marketed by the various participants in this industry. Generally, consumers regard the life cycle of the fashion items within the textile industry as short and prone to many changes, this explains why most of them make quick orders and seek to receive such orders within the shortest time possible. The supply chain is highly affected by the motivation to purchase, the life cycle of the product and the instability of shoppers’ request of various products in the market. Therefore, it calls for intense advertisement to persuade the consumers on the products especially in regards to the product life cycle (Khan et al. 2016). Expanded media accessibility of mold, for example, "prattle" magazines likewise highly affects the abbreviated item life cycles. So amid promoting, supervisors ought to consider utilizing the talk destinations in publicizing their attire items. The inventory network is a vital piece of quick design since it is the most preliminary component to have the capacity to get the most recent form pieces into the market. Successful store network administration is a key element inside the quick design idea (Rosen 2012). Recommendations One of the recommendations regards the establishment of better compensation policy within the textile industry. The companies within the textile industry have been understood to be offering minimum wage as their compensation policy. This implies that the payment for the workers is not as comprehensive as possible and this translates into the hardship conditions lived by the modern textile company workers. The unethical practice prejudices and forces the company workers into hardship and poor living conditions despite the heavy work that they usually do. This paper recommends that the textile companies adopt a livable compensation policy so s to adjust on the wages given to the workers. It would be ethical to provide better and adequate remunerate and salary to the company workers commensurate to the kind of activities that they perform (Khan et al. 2016). The other recommendation regards to the need to reduce environmental pollution as a result of the industry activities. Studies reveal that the textile industry is one of the heavy emitters of harmful wastes into the environment. The immediate environments within which textile companies are situated suffer the most due to a lot of pollution from the manufacturing processes. The processes of dyeing and manufacturing the synthetic fiber contribute significantly to pollution. Therefore, this paper recommends the heavy reliance on the natural fiber as the best raw materials in the textile industry. It’s generally easy to process and dye the natural fiber as opposed to the synthetic fiber and this would considerably reduce the percentage of the population (Kolk &Van Tulder 2014). The other recommendations regard the need to adopt recycling as one of the procedures aimed at reducing a number of wastes channeled into the environment. Most of the textile materials can easily be recycled if such recycling strategy and infrastructure is put in place. This would be essential in promoting better and more conservative way of operation. Social responsibility of businesses requires the need to conserve and protect the immediate environment and maintain such free from any population. This is regarded as one of the essential ethical practices beneficial for manufacturers such as those in the textile industry. Market sensitivity Market sensitivity implies the need to be close and responsive to the changes within the market environment. The firms need to be close to the clients and respond by satisfying the demands of the consumers within the market in terms of fashion product quality and product price (Kolk &Van Tulder 2014). Virtual Integration Virtual Integration refers to the dependence by an organization on the data from the accomplices existing within the production network. The production network such as that of the textile industry is composed of several players. All these participants have a certain data and vital information which usually inform their decision-making. An organization requires this information so as to shape its practices and make it engage in better decisions of product promotion and success (Ngai et al. 2014). Network-based The modern industries rely heavily on the establishment and utilization of various networks for survival. The supply chain, for example, is operated on a network which consists of several activities. The processing and delivery occur within a network which integrates various players. Other cases such as manufacturing and promotional activities equally dependent robust network established in the company (Kozar & Hiller Connell 2013). The textile industries require having a proper network which easily links their operations and ensures a proper management of activities (Barnes & Lea- Greenwood, 2010). Conclusion The textile industry stands out as one of the dominant and highly dynamic industries in the world. Clothe fashion industry has occupied a central position in the modern market with many companies seeking to hedge one another. A lot of designs have equally been witnessed in this industry making it highly modern. All these have been shaped by the growing customer preference and need to match with the changes and trends. However, most of these companies have been engaged in unethical practices in the course of their pursuit to remain dominant in the market (Motlagh & Saha 2014). The ethical practices require every retailer or manufacturer to ensure that it engages in rightful activities at all times. This has however not been the case in some companies which engage in price discrimination to the staff, pollution activities and other unethical practices at the behest of profit maximization. This paper considered various theories in the textile industry and the recommendations for improvement so as to promote ethical practices in the industry. References Barnes, L .& Lea- Greenwood, G. (2010) Fast Fashion in the retail store environment, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol 38. No 10, pp. 760-772. Carter, C.R. and Jennings, M.M., 2012. Logistics social responsibility: an integrative framework. Journal of business logistics, 23(1), pp.145-180. Chakraborty, J.N. and Chakraborty, J.N. eds., 2014. Fundamentals and practices in colouration of textiles. WPI Publishing. Choi, T.M. ed., 2013. Fast fashion systems: Theories and applications. CRC Press. Hayes, S & Jones, N (2006) Fast fashion: a financial snapshot, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 282-300 Khan, Z.R., Rodrigues, G. and Balasubramanian, S., 2016. Ethical consumerism and apparel industry-towards a new factor model. Kolk, A. and Van Tulder, R., 2014. Ethics in international business: multinational approaches to child labor. Journal of world Business, 39(1), pp.49-60. Kozar, J.M. and Hiller Connell, K.Y., 2013. Socially and environmentally responsible apparel consumption: knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. Social responsibility journal, 9(2), pp.315-324. Motlagh, J. and Saha, A., 2014. The Ghosts of Rana Plaza: In Bangladesh, one year after the worst accident in the history of the garment industry, recovery remains a fragile process, justice seems elusive, and reform has a long way to go. Virginia quarterly review, 90(2), pp.44-89. Ngai, E.W.T., Peng, S., Alexander, P. and Moon, K.K., 2014. Decision support and intelligent systems in the textile and apparel supply chain: An academic review of research articles. Expert Systems with Applications, 41(1), pp.81-91. Rosen, E., 2012. Making sweatshops: The globalization of the US apparel industry. Univ of California Press. Sheridan, M, Moore, C & Nobbs, K (2006) Fast Fashion requires fast marketing, Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 301-315 Turker, D. and Altuntas, C., 2014. Sustainable supply chain management in the fast fashion industry: An analysis of corporate reports. European Management Journal, 32(5), pp.837-849. Read More

The same has equally been witnessed among the modern consumers who have become more aware of the kind of products which they expect. In the past, the textile industry has witnessed several issues some who have a negative effect on the progress of development. For example, the notable collapse of Rana Plaza which is situated in Bangladesh led to a lot of damage and ended up killing many people (Carter & Jennings 2012). The other notable industry regards the one which collapsed in Mumbai. One feature which has characterized most of the collapsing industries is due to their insignificant social responsibility, especially to their stakeholders.

The stakeholders within the textile industries have been seen as important and critical decision makers who can make a company progress or otherwise collapse depending on the way they are handled and treated by the specific company. Therefore, most of these companies ended up collapsing due to lack of social responsibility framework to promote their activities. Consumers, equally, have been aware of the need for social responsibility and ethical practices for the company. Research studies indicate that most consumers have little concern as to whether a particular company engaged in ethical practices or otherwise.

Most consumers actually have little knowledge of what constitutes an ethical practice. They simply require identifying a particular company and engaging in trade without much consideration on the impact of ethical or non-ethical activities being perpetrated by the particular company. In fact, some consumers till engage in trade with companies that have been deemed and declared as non-ethical. One of the most common reasons given to explain this unprecedented action by the consumers is a lack of sufficient knowledge regarding the kind of activities done by such companies.

Most of the consumers lack sufficient knowledge regarding the activities done by these companies especially those done during the processes of production. Therefore, most of the consumers act in the light of little knowledge. On the other hand, some consumers assert that they continue to engage in trade with such unethical companies since they find it difficult to among products that they have purchased over time. Many assert that they have much preference and attention for other things such as the price of the product, quality and value of such products which are manufactured and sold by the companies.

The elements considered by the present consumers are issues to do with the product price and quality. Once they are satisfied with these key product aspects, they simply engage in purchase with little or no focus on the ethical or non-ethical activities done by the respective companies. This has been seen as one of the aspects that have promoted the unethical companies to engage and continue with their practices since their activities have little attention and have little consideration for the consumers.

The study, however, revealed that in the case where the unethical activity has direct negative impact on the consumer, then there are likely to be concerned and make retracted decisions. Some activities usually have direct or indirect implication to the immediate consumers. However, most unethical behaviors have direct impacts on the consumers, especially within the textile industry. In cases where such unethical activities have direct negative implications, the consumers are seen to be much interested in understanding this unethical behavior.

Studies agree that consumers tend to change their purchasing patterns when they have full information of the negative implication of the unethical activities perpetrated by a company into their lives. The most common case is when the information about ethical or unethical activities have been hidden or not exposed to these consumers forcing them to have a more macro view of the entire situation (Carter & Jennings 2012). How marketing managers use ethical theories The Fast fashion concept theory The concept of Fast Fashion is one of the most relevant concepts in the textile industry.

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