Societal Transitions and Environmental Consciousness through Sustainable Textile Systems: Implications for Social Equity, Ecological Stability, Challenges, and Opportunities

Article Sidebar

View PDF

Section

Research Article

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2026): In Progress

How to Cite

Temesgen, A. G., Kaufmann, J., & Cebulla, H. (2026). Societal Transitions and Environmental Consciousness through Sustainable Textile Systems: Implications for Social Equity, Ecological Stability, Challenges, and Opportunities. Social Science Insights and Applications, 2(2), 17-39. https://doi.org/10.65773/ssia.2.2.70

Main Article Content

Authors

Alhayat G. Temesgen*
Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, Germany ; Wollo University, Kombolcha Institute of Technology, Kombolcha, Ethiopia
Jörg Kaufmann
Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, Germany
Holger Cebulla
Chemnitz University of Technology, Chemnitz, Germany

Abstract

Textile market clusters represent critical nodes where production, trade, and consumption intersect, yet their potential as sites of socio-technical transformation remains underexplored. This study examines how sustainable practices embedded within specific textile market centers in Ethiopia: Shiromeda, Gulele, and Saris in Addis Ababa, and Shema Tera in Bahir Dar and Kombolcha, shape behavioral change, environmental outcomes, and social equity at the local level. Using a mixed-methods design, we collected data from 150 representatives across six enterprises operating within these clusters. Thematic coding of qualitative interviews was combined with quantitative survey modeling to analyze how market-level dynamics mediate the adoption and diffusion of sustainable textile practices. Findings reveal that these clusters function not merely as commercial spaces but as socio-technical arenas where sustainable practices influence labor norms, gender participation, and supply chain inclusion. Ecologically, enterprises within these centers demonstrate measurable improvements in resource efficiency and waste reduction when sustainability is embedded in operational routines. The study contributes to transition theory by showing how place-specific market structures can catalyze or constrain broader systemic change, offering concrete implications for policy targeting cluster-level sustainability interventions in sub-Saharan African textile economies. 

Keywords:
sustainable textile systems, societal transitions, environmental consciousness, social equity, ecological stability, ethical production

Article Details

References

[1]United Nations Environment Programme. (2019). Sustainability and social equity in textile industries.

[2]Fletcher, K. (2014). Sustainable fashion and textiles: Design journeys (2nd ed.). Routledge.

[3]United Nations. (2015). The sustainable development goals report 2015.

[4]International Labour Organization. (2020). Labour conditions in global textile industries.

[5]Fairtrade International. (2018). Fair trade standards and principles.

[6]Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2017). Responsible business conduct in the textile and garment sector.

[7]World Health Organization, & International Labour Organization. (2019). Occupational health and safety guidelines for textile workers.

[8]Barrientos, S. (2013). Fair trade and ethical labour relations in global supply chains. The Journal of Development Studies, 49(7), 1058–1072. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2013.780040

[9]World Bank, SMEs and Sustainability in Developing Economies. Washington, DC, USA: World Bank, 2021.

[10]Temesgen, A. G., Kaufmann, J., & Cebulla, H. (2025). Ethiopian traditional clothing: Impacts on global fashion, marketing strategies, and emerging perspectives in fashion tourism. Social Science Insights and Applications, 1(1), 71–96. https://doi.org/10.65773/ssia.1.1.53

[11]Kabeer, N. (2016). Women's economic empowerment and inclusive development. Routledge.

[12]Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Gender-Sensitive Policies in Sustainable Industries. Rome, Italy: FAO, 2019.

[13]The Asia Foundation, Women Leadership in Manufacturing Sectors. San Francisco, CA, USA: The Asia Foundation, 2018.

[14]R. Chambers, Community Development and Participation: Theory and Practice. Oxford, UK: Oxfam Press, 2017.

[15]UNESCO, Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Development. Paris, France: UNESCO, 2021.

[16]Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Green Economy and Job Creation in Developing Countries. Bonn, Germany: GIZ, 2020.

[17]African Development Bank Group, Textile Value Chains and Industrial Growth in Africa. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire: AfDB, 2022.

[18]Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, Employment and Income Dynamics in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: CSA, 2023.

[19]United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Human development report 2020: The next frontier—Human development and the Anthropocene.

[20]International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods. Rome, Italy: IFAD, 2019.

[21]World Economic Forum, Barriers to Sustainable Industrial Growth in Emerging Economies. Geneva, Switzerland: WEF, 2021.

[22]Gereffi, G. (2018). Global value chains and economic inequality. Global Policy, 9(1), 17–24.

[23]Bick, R., Halsey, E., & Ekenga, C. C. (2018). The global environmental injustice of fast fashion. Environmental Health, 17, Article 92. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-018-0433-7

[24]Transparency International, Corporate Accountability and Transparency Frameworks. Berlin, Germany: TI, 2020.

[25]International Trade Centre (ITC), Sustainable Trade for Developing Countries. Geneva, Switzerland: ITC, 2021.

[26][26] World Trade Organization (WTO), Challenges in Global Textile Certification Systems. Geneva, Switzerland: WTO, 2022.

[27]United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Industrial Policy for Sustainable Development. Vienna, Austria: UNIDO, 2023.

[28]OECD, Social Justice and Sustainable Systems in Emerging Economies. Paris, France: OECD Publishing, 2023.

[29]Fletcher, K. (2014). Sustainable fashion and textiles: Design journeys (2nd ed.). Routledge.

[30]United Nations Environment Programme. (2020). Sustainability and circularity in the textile value chain: Global stocktaking.

[31]Koszewska, M. (2018). Circular economy—Challenges for the textile and clothing industry. Autex Research Journal, 18(4), 337–347. https://doi.org/10.1515/aut-2018-0023

[32]Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(4), 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

[33]Ellen MacArthur Foundation. (2017). A new textiles economy: Redesigning fashion's future.

[34]Kant, R. (2012). Textile dyeing industry an environmental hazard. Natural Science, 4(1), 22–26. https://doi.org/10.4236/ns.2012.41004

[35]Muthu, S. S. (Ed.). (2017). Sustainability in the textile industry. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2639-3

[36]Allwood, J. M., Laursen, S. E., Malvido de Rodríguez, C., & Bocken, N. (2006). Well dressed? The present and future sustainability of clothing and textiles in the United Kingdom. University of Cambridge, Institute for Manufacturing.

[37]Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. (2019). Ethiopia climate resilient green economy strategy.

[38]Chapagain, A. K., Hoekstra, A. Y., Savenije, H. H. G., & Gautam, R. (2006). The water footprint of cotton consumption: An assessment of the impact of worldwide consumption of cotton products on the water resources in the cotton producing countries. Ecological Economics, 60(1), 186–203. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.11.027

[39]FAO, Sustainable Textile Fibres and Their Environmental Impact, Rome, Italy: FAO, 2018.

[40]Edwards, T. (2019). Indigenous knowledge and sustainable textile practices in East Africa. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15(5), 87–96.

[41]International Organization for Standardization. (2006). ISO 14040:2006: Environmental management—Life cycle assessment—Principles and framework.

[42]Muthu, S. S. (2014). Assessing the environmental impact of textiles and the clothing supply chain. Woodhead Publishing.

[43]Temesgen, A. G., & Sahu, O. (2014). Removal of reactive dye using activated carbon from agricultural waste. Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 2(2), 23–28. https://doi.org/10.12966/jegh.05.02.2014

[44]Temesgen, A. G., Turşucular, Ö. F., Eren, R., & Ulcay, Y. (2018). The art of hand weaving textiles and crafting on socio-cultural values in Ethiopian. International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research, 5(12), 59–67. https://doi.org/10.22192/ijamr.2018.05.12.006

[45]Kant, R. (2012). Textile dyeing industry an environmental hazard. Natural Science, 4(1), 22–26. https://doi.org/10.4236/ns.2012.41004

[46]World Bank, Green Industrial Policy and Sustainable Financing in Developing Countries, Washington, DC, USA: World Bank, 2020.

[47]Allwood, J. M., Laursen, S. E., Malvido de Rodríguez, C., & Bocken, N. (2006). Well dressed? The present and future sustainability of clothing and textiles in the United Kingdom. University of Cambridge, Institute for Manufacturing.

[48]Muthu, S. S. (Ed.). (2017). Sustainability in the textile industry. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-2639-3

[49]OECD, Barriers to Sustainable Industrial Growth in Developing Economies, Paris, France: OECD Publishing, 2021.

[50]S. Niinimäki et al., “The environmental price of fast fashion,” Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 189–200, 2020.

[51]United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sustainability Policy and Regulatory Frameworks in the Textile Sector, Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP, 2019.

[52]Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ethiopia. (2020). Textile and apparel sector strategy: Policy framework.

[53]Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2022). Promoting sustainable practices through policy and regulation.

[54]Temesgen, A. G., Cebulla, H., & Kaufmann, J. (2025). Investigation of the sound absorption performance of cellulosic fine fibres fabricated from agricultural waste fibres. Agricultural Sciences: Techniques and Innovations, 3, 13–33. https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/asti/v3/5262

[55]Edwards, T. (2019). Indigenous knowledge and sustainable textile practices in East Africa. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15(5), 87–96.

[56]P. Chapagain and A. Hoekstra, Water Footprint of Cotton Consumption, Delft, Netherlands: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, 2006.

[57]Turşucular, Ö. F., & Temesgen, A. G. (2024). Ecofriendly surface modification of leaf fibers via Aloe-vera and α-enzymatic treatment for geo and agro-textile application. Journal of Modern Polymer Chemistry and Materials, 3, Article 4. https://doi.org/10.53964/jmpcm.2024004

[58]International Trade Centre (ITC), Sustainable Trade for Developing Countries, Geneva, Switzerland: ITC, 2021.

[59]Muthu, S. S. (2014). Assessing the environmental impact of textiles and the clothing supply chain. Woodhead Publishing.

[60]Fletcher, K. (2014). Sustainable fashion and textiles: Design journeys (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315857930

[61]Temesgen, A. G., Eren, R., & Aykut, Y. (2021). Green synthesis of cellulosic nanofiber in enset woven fabric structures via enzyme treatment and mechanical hammering. Textile and Apparel, 31(1), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.32710/tekstilvekonfeksiyon.764976

[62]Allwood, J. M., Laursen, S. E., Malvido de Rodríguez, C., & Bocken, N. (2006). Well dressed? The present and future sustainability of clothing and textiles in the United Kingdom. University of Cambridge, Institute for Manufacturing.

[63]Edwards, T. (2019). Indigenous knowledge and sustainable textile practices in East Africa. Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 15(5), 87–96.

[64]Ellen MacArthur Foundation, A New Textiles Economy: Redesigning Fashion’s Future, Cowes, UK, 2017.

[65]Temesgen, A. G., & Cebulla, H. (2026). A comprehensive review on the recycling of carbon fibre–reinforced polymer composite: Recovery techniques, material performance, and sustainability. Global Waste Valorization, 2(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.65773/gwv.2.1.98

[66]UNESCO, Traditional Knowledge and Sustainable Development, Paris, France: UNESCO, 2021.

[67]Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2022). Promoting sustainable practices through policy and regulation.

[68]Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ethiopia, Textile and Apparel Sector Strategy: Policy Framework, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2020.

[69]United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Sustainability Policy and Regulatory Frameworks in the Textile Sector, Nairobi, Kenya: UNEP, 2019.

[70]Fairtrade International, Fair Trade Standards and Principles, Bonn, Germany: Fairtrade International, 2018.

[71]Koszewska, M. (2018). Circular economy—Challenges for the textile and clothing industry. Autex Research Journal, 18(4), 337–347. https://doi.org/10.1515/aut-2018-0023

[72]Niinimäki, K., Peters, G., Dahlbo, H., Perry, P., Rissanen, T., & Gwilt, A. (2020). The environmental price of fast fashion. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 1(4), 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-020-0039-9

[73]ISO 14040, Environmental Management — Life Cycle Assessment — Principles and Framework, Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization, 2006.

[74]Muthu, S. S. (2014). Assessing the environmental impact of textiles and the clothing supply chain. Woodhead Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1533/9781782421122

[75]Temesgen, A. G. (2025). Experimental study on the effect of blend proportion on physical parameters of ring spun polyester/cotton blend yarn. Synthetic Ecological Engineering, 1(1), 14–26. https://doi.org/10.65773/see.1.1.79

[76]United Nations Development Programme. (2020). Human development report 2020: The next frontier—Human development and the Anthropocene.

[77]World Economic Forum. (2021). Barriers to sustainable industrial growth in emerging economies.

[78]Kaufmann, J., Temesgen, A. G., & Cebulla, H. (2025). A comprehensive review on natural fiber reinforced hybrid composites processing techniques, material properties and emerging applications. Discover Materials, 5, Article 227. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43939-025-00419-z

[79]African Development Bank Group. (2022). Textile value chains and industrial growth in Africa.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.