Student name: Ana Patrícia Carvalho

RUN-EU institution: Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest, Ireland

Abstract

Considering the economic uncertainty faced by the fashion and textile industries (EURATEX, 2024), it becomes evident that alignment with the demands of Industry 4.0 is essential. In response to this uncertainty and since the COVID-19 pandemic, the fashion industries have recognised the need to introduce innovative tools into the sector (Akhtar et al., 2022) and reimagine new creative lines (Choi, 2022). Thus, design takes on a significant role in integrating digital manufacturing technologies, implemented to address the challenges left behind. From the perspective of improving aspects such as efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability in the apparel industry, design stands out as a key element. Its contribution can lead to new ways of designing, producing, and consuming, enabling designers and producers to strengthen their professional capabilities in digital manufacturing. Therefore, this work, developed as part of a PhD research project, aims to identify and understand the impact of digitalisation on the apparel production chain through an exploratory study, based on direct observation in collaboration with partner companies.

References

Akhtar, W.H., Watanabe, C., Tou, Y. and Neittaanmäki, P. (2022) ‘A New Perspective on the Textile and Apparel Industry in the Digital Transformation Era’, Textiles, 2(4), pp. 633–656. doi: 10.3390/textiles2040037.

Choi, K. H. (2022) ‘3D dynamic fashion design development using digital technology and its potential in online platforms’, Fashion and Textiles, 9(1), pp. 1–28. doi: 10.1186/s40691-021-00286-1.

EURATEX, Economic and Statistics (2024) Facts and key figures 2024. Available at: https://euratex.eu/wp-content/uploads/EURATEX-Facts-Key-Figures-2024.pdf.