Roxanne Nastasi and Chiara Lorenza Remondino
The textile and fashion industry is one of the most impactful and complex sectors globally, primarily characterised by linear models of overproduction and overconsumption. The emergence of phenomena such as fast and ultra-fast fashion has led to environmental crises, economic instability, and sociocultural impoverishment, amplifying the urgency for a paradigm shift within the sector.
Concurrently, phenomena such as a renewed interest in “non-luxury” segments and the expansion of second-hand markets, among many other emerging signals, suggest that the sector may be approaching a broader transition. Rather than representing a definitive shift, these developments point to emerging conditions for strategic intervention, both upstream in the production process and downstream in the post-consumer stages of the value chain.
These complex sectoral challenges can be addressed by implementing systemic innovation methodologies to foster sustainable production flows—mostly aiming at circular models. Therefore, interventions are needed, alongside existing strategies, because so far, the solution implemented have been temporary fixes.
Taken together, these developments suggest that the sector is reaching a timely point for action, creating an opportunity to raise awareness and address the structural causes of these challenges. However, systemic change cannot be achieved through abrupt interventions. The supply chain should instead be transformed progressively, reshaping processes step by step and allowing existing actors, practices, and relationships to adapt over time.
In addition, a critical analysis of the current landscape highlights a fragmentation between young creatives and established companies; therefore, a collaborative ecosystem is proposed to bridge this gap, enhancing local know-how and materials—including both raw fibres and production surpluses—at a local level before scaling them globally.
By applying this framework to the city of Turin and leveraging its rich textile heritage, this study transforms the urban fabric into an innovation laboratory. Facilitating the exchange of tools, knowledge, and expertise becomes a way to foster collaboration between local industry and the next generation of creatives. The generational gap is therefore a powerful catalyst for mutual influence and systemic transformation, providing an opportunity to engage and evolve, establishing a positive position within the sector.
Keywords: systemic innovation design, collaborative ecosystems, textile and fashion supply chain, creative industries, sustainable innovation, young creatives