Transitioning to the circular textile and fashion industry: Drivers and barriers from stakeholder's perspectives

This study examines the drivers and barriers influencing Thailand's transition toward a circular textile and fashion industry (TFI) through multi-stakeholder perspectives. Using a qualitative, STEEP-oriented analytical approach, the investigation uncovers how seven stakeholder groups interact within the circular ecosystem. The findings indicate that global environmental and regulatory pressures are the strongest drivers accelerating circular adoption, while domestic barriers including fragmented policy implementation, weak financial incentives, limited recycling infrastructure and technological constraints continue to hinder progress. The analysis also reveals uneven capacities across stakeholder groups, with multinational firms adopting compliance-driven strategies and smaller enterprises facing structural limitations. The study advances circular economy (CE) scholarship by demonstrating how stakeholder dynamics shape systemic transformation in emerging economies and by identifying leverage points for strengthening collaboration, policy coherence and technological development. These insights offer both theoretical and practical implications for accelerating the circular transition in Thailand's textile sector.