The Production Chain

Abstract

The fashion industry's production chain is an excellent observatory for analyzing economic, technical, and social changes since the nineteenth century. In just two centuries, fashion has become so globalized that it can be considered one of the world's most capital-intensive industries. This chapter examines the transformations and continuities, from infrastructure to consumer behavior. The institutionalization of mass production also requires an examination of labor conditions, sweatshops, and modern slavery. The search for the lowest cost has led to many tensions between the different actors: retailers, manufacturers, workers, and customers. Technological and chemical advances have had an unprecedented impact on the industry, resulting in more comfortable and less expensive clothing. However, at the beginning of the twenty-first century, capitalist competition within the fashion industry is bringing to the fore new issues relating to the system's economic, technological, and social sustainability. Unbridled consumption and production are leading to discussions about the exploitation of human and environmental resources in this increasingly criticized industry.