Blog3/3: What My Research Found From green claims to factory floors

After completing my systematic literature review, I wanted to reflect on the main findings from the eighteen studies

Before starting this research, I expected the main issue that companies are making sustainability claims without taking real action. However, the literature showed a more complex picture. The gap between sustainability promises and factory level practices is often connected to structural problems such cost pressure, fragmented outsourcing, and the unequal relationship between brands and suppliers. Many factories are not simply refusing to improve; they are operating within a system where speed, low costs, and production demands often come first.

I also discovered that certifications like GRS and RCS can support sustainability efforts but should not be viewed as a complete solution. They provide useful standards and transparency, but they may only cover certain parts of a product’s lifecycle. A certification label alone does not always show the full environmental impact behind a product.

The circular economy was another important finding. I initially saw it as a nearly complete solution for creating a more sustainable fashion industry. However, the research showed that many circular practices are still focused on recycling and reuse, while approaches like repair, eco-design, and longer product life cycles are less developed. This means circularity is often added after production rather than built into the design process from the beginning.

The biggest change in my perspective was realizing that sustainability challenges cannot be solved by blaming one group. The issue is connected to the way the entire industry is structured, from consumer expectations to supplier relationships and business models.

Overall, this research taught me that sustainability is not just about making better claims,  it is about creating deeper changes in how fashion is designed, produced, and managed. Real progress requires shared responsibility and a shift in the systems that shape the industry.

Blog2/3 : What I Learned While Writing My Literature Review

 For my second blog, I will discuss my Individual Field Study (IFS) journey, during which I conducted a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). I selected the PRISMA framework as my methodology to ensure a structured and systematic approach to reviewing the literature. My topic was Bridging Sustainability Claims and Factory Realities In the textile & fashion industry : A Systematic literature review and research agenda.

I underestimated how difficult the screening stage would be. At the beginning, I thought the writing process would be the main challenge, but reviewing 158 articles and narrowing them down to a final selection of 18 required much more time and judgment. Many papers appeared relevant from their titles but focused on areas like consumer attitudes or brand communication rather than actual factory-level sustainability practices. Learning how to exclude interesting but unsuitable studies became an important part of the process. The PRISMA framework helped me stay organized by making me define clear inclusion and exclusion criteria before selecting sources.

My research questions also changed throughout the process. My first ideas were too broad and described more of a topic than a research question also it was seems like almost similar when I was ideating two questions.  After several revisions, I developed clearer questions focusing on the gap between sustainability expectations and factory practices, as well as how circular economy approaches could address these challenges. This required continuously checking whether my chosen articles truly supported my research direction.

Another challenge was organizing the literature. At first, I summarized each article separately, which made my review look more like a list of summaries rather than a connected discussion. I later reorganized the findings into broader themes, including sustainability expectations, factory-level actions, implementation barriers, governance, and circular economy strategies. This helped me see connections between different studies.

I also had to be careful not to oversimplify the sustainability gap. Instead of viewing it only as a result of companies being dishonest, the literature showed that factors such as cost pressures, limited resources, and operational difficulties also play a major role. This helped me create a more balanced analysis.

The final discussion and conclusion sections required the most thinking because they involved creating connections between different studies rather than simply repeating their findings. Overall, I learned that a literature review is not just about collecting articles; it is about critically selecting, organizing, and interpreting research to build a meaningful argument.

Purchasing intern Gina Tricot 3/3

 A few months ago I started my internship at Gina Tricot as a purchasing intern. Now that I’ve been there for 10 weeks, I’ve been trying to put into words what this experience has actually meant to me, which is actually harder than I expected.

I worked across the jersey, knitting, and heavy woven departments, which meant I got a pretty broad look at how a fast fashion company sources and buys its products. Before this, purchasing was something I understood on paper, a subjecte I learned during my bachelor. I now understand it in practice, which makes what i learned in school more clear. 

One of the highlights during my intership was sitting in on supplier meetings. Getting to be in the room when the buyer and suppliers negotiate prices, discuss fabrics and talk about samples made it feel real in a way that no lecture could. I got to follow sourcing conversations around everything from linen blends to wool and faux fur, which sounds random but taught me so much about how varied the decision-making is depending on the category.

Sustainability was something I kept coming back to throughout the internship, since it’s central to my studies and because you can’t work in fashion right now without constantly being reminded of its importance. What struck me the most was how complex it gets in practice with certifications, supplier relationships, the tension between growth and impact. It’s not a clean story and I think sitting inside a company made me appreciate that more than I did before. I hope I can contribute with my knowledge to make a real difference!

I’m leaving Gina Tricot with a deepet understanding of what a buying team actually does, and a lot of questions I want to keep exploring in the future, maybe in my final thesis or in my future job. 

Thank you for reading!

Happy summer :p

 Blog 3

RAI - SCARCITY project Developing KPI Metrics 

The last two and a half weeks have been focused on analysis and writing. In my previous blog, I mentioned that I had reached the stage where the themes were beginning to emerge from the literature and that I was preparing to start writing. What I quickly realised was that writing the paper was a completely different challenge from collecting and analysing the data.

Until then, my work existed across multiple spaces: the core cascading literature, indicator literature, coding sheets, notes, and Excel files. While I had already synthesised almost 40 articles, the insights were still scattered. Writing forced me to bring everything together into one coherent argument.

I also experienced my first real writing block during the drafting process. I had the data, the analysis and the findings, but translating them into a structured academic narrative was much harder than expected. The analysis existed in my head and in spreadsheets, but not yet on paper. Surprisingly the background was the hardest part to write. Once I got over the block, things got a bit more manageable.

A large part of this phase involved working with the cross-analysis table developed from the literature review. Interestingly, some of the strongest findings emerged from what was missing rather than what was present. Existing frameworks provided extensive ways of measuring recycling and resource efficiency, yet offered little guidance on evaluating quality-based allocation or movement across multiple cascade loops.

These insights eventually informed the development of the KPI framework, which went through several iterations before reaching its final form. As I reach the end of this phase, I am proud of the work that has been accomplished. What started as scattered notes, articles and coding sheets gradually evolved into a coherent analysis and framework. It was particularly rewarding to see the depth of the cross-analysis appreciated, especially considering how much of the process involved questioning and refining my own interpretations.

Sangavi

 Blog 2/3: The Rise of the Second-Hand Clothing Market

I am amazed to see how quickly the second-hand clothing market is growing. People are buying and selling used clothes through online marketplaces and apps. Second-hand clothing helps reduce textile waste because garments are used for a longer time instead of being thrown away after a certain time. It also reduces the need for new clothing production, which saves water, energy, and virgin raw materials.

Especially younger generations are more interested in sustainable fashion and used garments. At the same time, second-hand clothing is often more affordable and offers unique fashion choices. There are still challenges such as some people's concerns about hygiene and product quality and some are concerned about the authenticity of the product while buying from a local second-hand store instead of a brand shop. 

Blog #3/3 — Building Bridges through ENGAGE

Hello,

 

This is my third and final blog post, were I want to reflect on what I have learned throughout my field study while working on the ENGAGE project.

At the time when I first started working with ENGAGE, the project felt broad and almost self-exploratory. Because of this, my focus was mainly on understanding how such project could build stronger connections between different stakeholders. In my second blog post, I reflected on how we were moving toward stakeholder interviews and how important it was to ask questions that would help us to understand what the stakeholders wants. Now, after conducting and reviewing student interviews, who are one of the primary stakeholders, the purpose of ENGAGE has become much clearer to me.

One of the strongest findings from the student interviews that we found was that students do see value in the university’s academic curriculum. However, they also want more structured support in connecting with the professional world. Several students expressed although opportunities exist through university channel, they are not always frequent, visible, or easy to access. This made me realize that professional development is not only consisted of creating opportunities or connections, but also about making sure others know about such opportunites and feel confident enough to take participate.

Another important theme from the interviews is the gap between academic learning and real industry practice. Students appreciate what they learn in the classroom, especially in areas such as textiles, fasion and sustainability. However, they also want more practical exposure which they believe would help them to be ready for the real world. Company visits, guest lectures, real-life projects, internships, and events with industry representatives were mentioned by students which they think would be useful ways to make the connection between education and future working life stronger.

When it comes to the international students it came to my view that international students may face additional barriers when trying to access professional opportunities. Language requirements, limited knowledge of local companies, cultural differences, and lack of responses from companies can make it more difficult for them to build networks or find internships. This showed me that ENGAGE should not only think about creating industry connections, but also about making those connections more inclusive and accessible for different groups of students.

For me, one of the biggest learning outcome from this field study is that building connection between different stakeholders requires more than simply arranging events. Rather it involves structured framework, clear communication, and an understanding of the different expectations of all the different stakeholders within a project. Working on this project has given me a better understanding of what to do with this project throughout the summer to create a better foundation. This is something that honestly gets me excited as I am looking forward to seeing what kind of results, I can come up with that can help future students.

Overall, this field study has helped me understand the importance of listening and researching before designing solutionsand framework. The student interviews showed that ENGAGE has the potential to become a more systematic, visible, and inclusive pathway between students and professional life. This alone becomes a valuable learning experience for me as it has shown me how research, reflection, take interviews, thematic analysis and stakeholder engagement can support the development of a project that creates real value.

3/3 Marketing & PR Intern

Hi,

My 11-week internship at Envii is coming to an end, and it has truly been such a valuable experience. During the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in many different areas of marketing and PR, from campaign coordination and content production to different collaborations, special activations, newsletters, and social media content planning and creation.

One of the highlights for me has been getting a better understanding of how many different areas work together behind the scenes to build a cohesive brand experience. Being involved in both creative and more operational tasks gave me a broader perspective on digital marketing and brand communication, while also allowing me to develop new skills throughout the internship. 

What I’ve appreciated throughout this internship has been the supportive and creative atmosphere within the team. It has been exciting to follow Envii’s ongoing brand development during this time, and I’m very grateful to everyone on the team for making the experience so enjoyable and welcoming from day one. :)

As I prepare to conclude this experience with a final presentation of my report findings, I am grateful for everything I have learned along the way. I look forward to carrying these insights into future opportunities and continuing to grow both personally and professionally.

Blog #3 : Individual Field Study 2026 - Blog #3 : Individual Field Study 2026 - Influence of secondhand fashion on sustainable consumption in the Asian subcontinent: Exploring consumer and retailer perspectives

Hope everyone is doing great. This is the final blog post for the IFS. At this point, I am at the final stage of the field study and will be taking part in the presentation seminar. 

The findings of the study reveal that consumers are showing more interest towards secondhand fashion and becoming more aware of the environmental issues and the benefits of sustainable consumption. However, purchasing decisions vary from different customer ranges and depend on various factors such as affordability, authenticity, and trendiness. Environmental concerns are also gaining importance among the young consumers, but they still act as a secondary motivation in terms of buying in the Asian markets. While conducting the study, different research gaps were noticed, which include a focus on only one side of secondhand fashion, such as consumer perception, avoiding the retailer perception, and a single country-based study without doing a comparative analysis. This study hopefully could cover up the comparative country-based limitations, as in the literature review I have analyzed secondhand fashion specifically in India, Indonesia, China, Sri Lanka, South Korea, and Vietnam, but further research is needed to integrate consumer and retailer perspectives, examining consumer purchasing behavior and overcoming the barriers. To achieve this goal, retailers, policymakers, and consumers need to work with coordination to overcome existing barriers and establish a reliable, accessible, and socially accepted secondhand fashion environment in Asia.

Overall, this study has helped in gaining hands-on experience in research, referencing, literature review, and developing my writing skills as well. I believe this will contribute a lot in the coming days of my academic career. Thank you.

Fashion Events Intern 3/3

Since my last update, my understanding of how events function as both professional gatherings and social spaces has continued. As I have now completed the data collection for my report, I have had the opportunity to reflect more systematically on the two events I observed during my internship. It has become more clear that interaction unfolds differently based on the structure and atmosphere of an event. In the previous blogpost, I shared two different events that I participated in, both in terms of planning and in execution. For my report, I decided on focusing on the observations from these two events, since different context provide different outcomes in terms of the relational aspects i´m focusing on, together with two conducted interviews from individuals in the fashion industry.

From these observations, I have become more aware of how participation is not only shaped by event design, but also by social dynamics. For example, confidence, familiarity, and existing networks seemed to influence how easily people moved between conversations and groups. This made me reflect on how networking emerges through everyday interaction and presence in the space, and not only by the attendance on one event. 

Working at a members’ club has also given me insight into the role of curation in shaping these environments. Small decisions regarding for example the guest lists, timings and format also changes the interactions that take place. My experience and observations has shown that outcomes in terms of networking and community building, is not always guaranteed, since it depends on how participants navigates the spaces and the social contexts. 

Overall, this internship has strengthened my interest in how fashion and creative industry events function as more than just planned experiences. Events are environments where aspects such as visibility, interaction and a sense of belonging are negotiated. This has been central in my practical work and in my report as well. 

As I now conclude this part of the journey, I find myself particularly interested in continuing to explore how these intangible factors shape access and opportunity within creative industries.

Blog #3: Loggit

Since my last post, I have focused mainly on wrapping up my list of recycling industry players in Europe and also on my report for the Field Study course, based on the earlier report I compiled regarding reusable e-commerce packaging.

One interesting thing I discovered is that even over the course of this very short (relatively speaking) period, there has been movement in the industry. For example, one of the industry examples I included in my original packaging report has since completely revamped its product line, shifting from a Reuse-as-a-Service model -- where the operator essentially collects and cleans the packaging before redistributing it to client retailers -- from simply selling the physical reusable mailers, no other services included. Another has shifted its focus from reusable mailers to specifically cardboard packaging for electronics trade-ins, like when consumers send in old iPhones to Apple in return for credit on new ones, while placing a greater focus on value-add services like better tracking.

This shift demonstrates just how fluid this sector is. Because it is still so new and so undeveloped, players are still experimenting with different business models and products, and the competitive environment is evolving from day to day. Many players also do not make it. One player cited in many recent-ish white papers and consultancy reports had gone bankrupt last year, despite being considered one of the leading names in the field.

On a personal note, this internship has allowed me to think more about sustainability, including in the fashion industry, from a slightly different lens - that of logistics and packaging, compared with the product itself. It really demonstrated to me that true, meaningful sustainability requires change not just within individual companies but in the greater business environment that spans across the supply chains and includes customers as well.