Luxury in Transition: Mapping Sustainability Practices and Challenges in Luxury Supply Chains – A Literature Review

The luxury apparel industry holds significant influence over consumer behavior and industry trends. This unique positioning represents both a challenge and an opportunity for driving sustainability transformation. As regulatory pressures tighten and consumer awareness rises, the need to address both environmental and social issues drives companies to make more responsible decisions. Luxury brands must be prepared to navigate the complexities of implementing sustainable practices across their supply chains. However, while academic contributions on sustainability in the fashion industry have gained increasing attention, research focusing on the peculiarities of the luxury segment remains limited, leaving a critical gap in understanding the drivers, enablers, and barriers to systemic change. The objective of this study is to bridge this gap through a literature review of academic research, industry reports, and relevant case studies from the past decade, aiming to map the sustainability practices adopted by luxury apparel brands, identify key challenges they encounter, and examine the presence of possible patterns. The analysis addresses critical issues such as supply chain transparency, responsible resource management, ethical labor practices, and the integration of circular economy models. By mapping the current state-of-the-art and synthesizing the existing knowledge in the segment, the study provides a comprehensive overview of sustainability developments in luxury apparel supply chains and establishes a foundation for further research. Ultimately, these findings aim to guide the luxury apparel industry, policymakers and researchers toward establishing new standards that may extend beyond luxury markets, potentially impacting broader business practices and consumption patterns, and creating meaningful, long-term, sustainable transformation.