Business model innovation and sustainability in the fashion industry

Innovation and sustainability are the main sources of change in the global arena of all industries, including fashion. Although the fashion industry is considered one of the traditional sectors and with low technological content, it is strictly influenced by these two phenomena. These changes concern the entire business model and supply chain, from communication, customer relations, the search for new and innovative raw materials, distribution, to the product in the strict sense. The thesis begins with a review of the controversial literature concerning the business models definitions, its related theoretical antecedents, purposes and templates. Later, the concept of business model innovation is analysed, focusing more on e-business and digitalization. Next, there will be an overview of business model sustainability concept, with its features, requirements and models. In the last part, business model sustainability will be focused on the fashion industry. This section will be based on the differences between fast and slow fashion and, mainly, on the differences between start-ups and incumbent firms. Finally, the empirical part of the thesis will be based on two case studies, two Italian fashion companies, a start-up and an incumbent. The purpose of the thesis is to identify how sustainability affects the business models of the Italian fashion firms.