Dynamic capabilities for fashion-luxury supply chain innovation

Abstract

Purpose – This paper aims at developing a conceptual framework to identify the main features of supply chain innovation and to analyse the role of dynamic capabilities in implementing such innovations in the context of the fashion-luxury industry. Design/methodology/approach – The paper follows an exploratory approach based on one in-depth case study. The theoretical framework, developed through the literature review, is applied to a Italian fashion-luxury company, thus exploring its applicability in a real context and obtaining evidence in the area of supply chain innovation. Findings – The paper offers insights on supply chain innovation, by investigating an area under-explored in the existing literature. The paper provides a conceptual framework oriented to analyse the main features of supply chain innovation for fashion-luxury companies, by investigating the main determinants of innovation. Research limitations/implications – The proposed model provides initial insights into the topic of supply chain innovation in fashion-luxury companies. To date, the analysis is predominantly qualitative and therefore replication is needed to generalise the results. Practical implications – The paper identifies three different perspectives of supply chain innovation and the relationships between supply chain innovation and other types of innovations, which are hopefully useful for managers that are willing to introduce innovation inside fashion-luxury companies. Originality/value – The paper addresses a new topic, underexplored in the supply chain management literature, by considering a peculiar area of investigation, the fashion-luxury. Moreover, the paper investigates the topic of supply chain innovation through the support of empirical data.