Sustainability through digitalization: leveraging digital technologies to transform the textile and apparel industry for a resilient future

Abstract

This article highlights the potential of digitalization to enhance sustainability in the textile and apparel industry by integrating digital technologies in core operations. However, significant research gaps remain, including challenges in tool deployment, skill deficiencies, and organizational resistance to change. Strong collaboration between apparel industry professionals and computer scientists is essential to develop robust, relevant digital solu¬tions that lead to sustainability. In 2025, the apparel industry, valued at $1.84 trillion and contributing nearly 1.6% of global GDP, holds immense significance within global manufactur¬ing [1]. However, the textile and apparel industry causes significant environmental impact, ac¬counting for approximately 20% of global pollution [2], which is a growing concern. The apparel indus¬try has been grappling with an excessive volume of production and consumption due to the rise of fast fashion, seasonal assortments, and personal¬ized clothing preferences. Meeting such demands is challenging, as this industry remains one of the slowest to automate compared to other manu¬facturing sectors. With approximately 430 million people employed in textile, clothing, and fashion production, the sector is heavily reliant on manu¬al labor [3]. However, modern and competitive ap¬parel organizations have shown that investing in digital transformation enables them to adapt and maintain their competitiveness in the market. This article aims to highlight the potential of digital technologies in supporting the sustainability of the apparel industry and fostering a resilient future. Therefore, this article explores the transformation of traditional processes across research, design, product development, planning, production, and distribution through the use of Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM), Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelli¬gence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), blockchain, big data analytics, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), metaverse, and automation. Figure 1 illustrates the applications of digital tech¬nologies across different stages of the apparel business.