Transparency in textile & apparel supply chains: a systematic review

Abstract

Consumers and suppliers demand transparency in the textile and apparel industry due to increasing complexity, volatility, and competition in the global market. While research communities acknowledge the scarcity of publications in this domain, the number of related papers has surged by 122%. Nonetheless, existing reviews have primarily refrained from offering a comprehensive exploration of transparency within the broader context of textile and apparel supply chains. Consequently, a gap in systematic reviews focusing on transparency within this domain is evident. To fill this gap, our study aims to synthesise existing research on transparency in apparel and textile supply chains. To this end, we have structured our study into four research clusters derived from author-generated keywords in a carefully curated Scopus dataset. Furthermore, our study explores how transparency has evolved in textile and apparel supply chains, supported by these four clusters, which cover the following themes: 1) Sustainable approaches for transparency, 2) Supply chain perspective in transparency, 3) Implementing traceability for transparency and 4) Information transparency. Considering the insights gleaned from this comprehensive review, our study offers valuable insights and delineates potential directions for future research endeavours. These avenues for exploration can improve transparency in textile and apparel supply chains towards greater advancement and scholarly innovation.