Developing a modular apparel safety architecture for supply chain management: the apparel recycle perspective

This paper introduces the special issue on strategic choices for recyclable clothing implementation. Substantial private implementation is needed if company management objectives to increase the share of recyclable clothing and prevent dangerous clothing risk be achieved. The aim of this paper, and the entire special issue, is to draw scholarly attention to the processes underlying strategic choices for recyclable clothing implementation. An modular apparel safety architecture (MASA) framework for supply chain management was developed and implemented to provide guidelines for apparel designers and manufactures to solve safe and sustainable problems related to apparel production. The MASA framework was developed by integrating modular theory and product recyclable concept into existing apparel design and production. Children’s clothing design and production was used to implement the MASA framework as a proof concept. The MASA framework is the first apparel design and production model that emphasizes safety and recyclability in addition to functional, expressive, and aesthetic considerations. The originality of this work is its ability to combine social, technical, environmental and economic aspects using modular theory in order to provide a more holistic point of view on factors impacting recyclable clothing system through the design and development of recyclable management modules.