Role of Information and Communication Technologies in the Sustainable Clothing and Textile Industry

Abstract

Information and communication technology (ICT) has an important role to play in every sector globally. These opportunities will derive from the ability of ICTs to open up parts of the supply chain (other than basic manufacturing and processing) in clothing and textile industry as well. ICT technology is used at various stages of the design process. Presently, it is rapidly changing the textile industry. Employee attendance (clocking in) to shipment dispatching are dependent on information technology. The garment industry is fully depended on IT or ERP. This chapter presents the latest trends of companies that have successfully used ICTs to move, for example, into higher-value activities such as design and logistics, or to access niche markets. The study aims to investigate the uses of information and communication technology in the clothing and textile industry and examine the recent trends of ICT usage in companies within the textile industry and identify the factors to be considered by companies in the textile industry before investing in ICT.