Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The International Fashion Retail Supply Chain

  • Chapter
Fallstudien zum Internationalen Management

Abstarct

The purpose of this case study is to provide a critical review of the major changes that have occurred in the fashion retail environment during the last 30 years and the impact of these changes on the fashion supply chain. In essence there has been a transformation in the fashion supply chain from a manufacturer push to a demand led pull system; from a domestic to an offshore sourcing strategy by retailers; and an increased focus upon outsourcing supply chain functions to concentrate on core competences of the design, branding and retailing of fashion products. The case will draw upon key examples from the fashion sector to highlight the companies that have been instrumental in driving change in the sector and how innovation in supply chain management techniques have enabled companies to shorten lead times yet source products from distant geographical markets.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abernathy, F.H.; Volpe, A.; Weil, D. (2006): The future of the apparel and textile industries: Prospects and choices for public and private actors, in: Environment and Planning A, Vol. 38, No. 12, pp. 2207–2232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azuma, N. (2002): Pronto Moda Yokyo- style emergence of collection -free street fashion and the Tokyo-Seoul connection, in: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 30, No. 3, pp. 11–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Azuma, N.; Fernie, J. (2004): The changing nature of Japanese fashion: Can Quick Response improve supply chain efficiency?, in: European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 38, No. 7, pp. 790–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, L.; Lea-Greenwood, G. (2006): Fast fashioning the supply chain: Shaping the research agenda, in: Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes, L.; Lea-Greenwood, G. (2010): Fast fashion in the retail store environment, in: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 38, No. 10, pp. 760–772.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bennie, F.; Gazibara, I.; Murray, V. (2010): Fashion Futures 2025, Forum for the Future, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, J. (2010): Life in the fast lane, www.drapersonline.com/news/news-headlines/brandchester/life-in-the-fast-lane/5014238.article.

  • Bruce, M.; Daly, L.; Towers, N. (2004): Lean or agile: A solution for supply chain management in the textiles and clothing industry, in: International Journal of Operations & Production Management , Vol. 24, No. 2 , pp. 151–170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camuffo, A., Romano, P.; Vinella, A. (2001): Back to the future: Benetton transforms its global network, in: Sloan Management Review, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 46–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Childerhouse, P.; Towill, D. (2000): Engineering supply chains to match customer require ments', Logistics Information Management, Vol. 13, No. 6, pp. 337–345.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christopher, M.; Lowson, B.; Peck, H. (2004): Creating agile supply chains in the fashion industry, in: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 32, No. 8, pp. 367–376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cox, A. (1996): Relational competence and strategic procurement management: Towards an entrepreneurial and contractual theory of the firm, in: European Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 57–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowsett, S.; Davey, J. (2010): Cost, demand pressures face fashion retailers, www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE6BE07920101215?pageNumber=1, accessed on December 15, 2010.

  • Elbehri, A. (2004): MFA quota removal and global textile and cotton trade: Estimating quota trade restrictiveness and quantifying post MFA trade patterns', Paper presented at The 7th Annual Conference of Global Economic Analysis, Washington DC, June 17–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernie, J.; Moore, C.M.; Lawrie, A. (1998): A tale of two cities: An examination of fashion designer retailing within London and New York, in: Journal of Product and Brand Management, Vol. 7, No. 5 , pp. 366–378.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernie, J.; Maniatakis, P.A.; Moore, C.M. (2009): The role of international hubs in a fashion retailers sourcing strategy, in: International Review of Retail, Distribution & Consumer Research, Vol. 19, No. 4, pp. 421–436 .

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fisher, M. (1997): Which is the right supply chain for your product?, in: Harvard Business Review, Vol. 75, Nr. 2, pp. 105–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frohlich, M.; Westbrook, R.K. (2001): Arcs of integration: An international study of supply chain strategies, in: Journal of Operations Management, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 185–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fung, P.K. O.; Chen, S.N.; Yip, L.S.C. (2007): Relationships and performance of trade intermediaries; an exploratory study, in: European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 41, No. 1/2, pp. 159–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fung, S. (2010): An assessment of the changing world of manufacturing, Drapers Fashion Summit 2010, London, November, 16–17.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollander, S. (1970): Multinational Retailing, Michigan State University, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hines, T. (2007): Supply chain strategies, structures and relationships, in: Hines, T.; Bruce, M. (Eds.): Fashion Marketing: Contemporary Issues, Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inditex (2010): Zara in Rome unveils its most cutting-edge eco-efficient store, Press Release, www.inditex.com/en/press/press_releases/extend/00000817, accessed on December 15, 2010.

  • Jones, R.M. (2006): The apparel industry, Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • KSA (2005): Global Sourcing Reference: Cost Comparison Handbook for the Retail and Apparel Industry, Manchester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopez, C.; Fan, Y. (2009): Internationalisation of the fashion brand Zara, in: Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, Vol. 13, No. 2, pp. 279–296.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magretta, J.; Fung, V. (1998): Fast, global, and entrepreneurial: Supply chain management, Hong Kong style,in: Harvard Business Review, Vol. 76, No. 5, pp. 102–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maitland, I. (1997): The great non-debate over international sweatshops, in: Beauchamp, T.L.; Bowie, N.E. (Eds.): Ethical Theory and Business, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, pp. 593–605.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason-Jones, R.; Naylor, B.; Towill, D.R. (2000): Lean, agile or leagile? Matching your supply chain to the marketplace, in: International Journal of Production Research, Vol. 38, No. 17, pp. 4061–4070.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masson, R.; Iosif, L.; MacKerron; G.; Fernie, J. (2007): Managing complexity in agile global fashion industry supply chains, in: International Journal of Logistics Management, Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 238–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, C.M.; Birtwistle, G. (2004): The Burberry model: creating an international luxury fashion brand,in: The International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 32, No. 8, pp. 412–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, C.M.; Birtwistle, G. (2005): The nature of parenting advantage in luxury fashion retailing- the case of Gucci group NV, in: International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, Vol. 33, No. 4, pp. 256–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moore, C.M.; Doherty, A.M.; Doyle, S. A. (2010): Flagship stores as a market entry method: The perspective of luxury fashion retailing, in: European Journal of Marketing, Vol. 44, No. 1/2, pp. 139–161.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Naylor, J.B., Naim, M.M.; Berry, D. (1999): Leagility: Integrating the lean and agile manufacturing paradigms in the total supply chain, in: International Journal of Production Economics, Vol. 62, No. 1 2, pp. 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Palpacuer, F. (2006): The global sourcing patterns of French clothing retailers, in: Environment and Planning A, Vol. 38, No. 12, pp. 2271–2283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sethi, S.P. (2003): Setting Global Standards: Guidelines for Creating Codes of Conduct in Multinational Corporations, Wiley, Hoboken, N.J.

    Google Scholar 

  • Singleton, J. (1997): The World Textile Industry, Routledge, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taplin, I.M. (2006): Restructuring and reconfiguration: The EU textile and clothing industry adapts to change, in: European Business Review, Vol. 18, No. 3, pp. 172–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tokatli, N. (2007): Global sourcing: Insights from the global clothing industry- The case of Zara, a fast fashion retailer, in: Journal of Economic Geography, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 21–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Totakli, N.; Kizilgun, O. (2009): From manufacturing garments for ready-to-wear to designing collections for fast fashion: Evidence from Turkey, in: Environment and Planning A, Vol. 41, No. 1, pp. 146–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tungate, M. (2008): Fashion brands, Kogan Page, London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Welford, R.; Frost, S. (2006): Corporate social responsibility in Asian supply chains, in: Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 166–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams, T.; Maull, R.; Ellis, B. (2002): Demand chain management theory: Constraints and development from global aerospace supply webs, in: Journal of Operations Management, Vol. 20, No. 6, pp. 691–706.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Retail Marketing, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland

    John Fernie (Professor)

  2. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, Scotland

    Patsy Perry (Lecturer in Management)

Authors
  1. John Fernie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Patsy Perry
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Instituts für Handel und Internationales Marketing, Universität des Saarlandes, Saarbrücken

    Joachim Zentes (Direktor) (Direktor)

  2. Betriebswirtschaftslehre, insbesondere Marketing und Handel, Universität Trier, Trier

    Bernhard Swoboda (Professur) (Professur)

  3. Internationales Management, Universität Freiburg, Schweiz

    Dirk Morschett (Liebherr/Richemont-Lehrstuhls) (Liebherr/Richemont-Lehrstuhls)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Gabler Verlag | Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden GmbH

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fernie, J., Perry, P. (2011). The International Fashion Retail Supply Chain. In: Zentes, J., Swoboda, B., Morschett, D. (eds) Fallstudien zum Internationalen Management. Gabler Verlag, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6793-0_16

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-8349-6793-0_16

  • Publisher Name: Gabler Verlag, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-8349-2967-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-8349-6793-0

  • eBook Packages: Business and Economics (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation