Eco-Design Strategies for Sustainability in the Fashion Industry - A Case Analysis of Global and Korean Firms -

The fashion industry has been recognized as a major contributor to environmental degradation, prompting regulatory efforts such as the European Union’s Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. Central to this endeavor is the concept of eco-design, which emphasizes sustainability across the entire product lifecycle. However, despite growing conceptual discussions, limited research has examined how eco-design is operationalized within fashion firms, and to address this gap, this study conducted a case analysis of fashion companies, including both global and Korean brands, using the seven eco-design domains proposed by the European Commission as an analytical framework. The analysis covered a total of 11 fashion brands, with the findings revealing that eco-design implementation is not a uniform process but rather a strategic portfolio of selectively combined practices across lifecycle stages. Moreover, while global firms tend to adopt resource-intensive domains such as data-driven measurement, governance, and sustainable production, smaller designer brands favor flexible approaches, including design innovation and upcycling—differences that reflect variations in resource availability, supply chain control, and regulatory exposure. This study contributes to the literature by offering empirical insights into how eco-design is implemented across different types of fashion firms, while providing practical guidance for firms seeking to adopt sustainability strategies aligned with their capabilities.