Abstract
This case study explores strategies to support the transformation of Vietnam’s textile and apparel industry, particularly large garment exporting enterprises, toward more sustainable and designed-led business models. In response to increasing socio-economic and environmental challenges, the study identifies closer collaboration with academic institutions as a key enabler for building relevant future- facing skills. Drawing on reflexive practice through structured journal writing, the paper analyses a multi-stakeholder workshop facilitated by the International Labour Organization and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), highlighting tensions and opportunities in co-design approaches within hierarchical and culturally specific working environments. The concept of đồng- design, a Vietnamese interpretation of co-design grounded in the value of togetherness, is proposed as a culturally resonant practice that can help bridge the gap between traditional production models and emerging design-led innovation. By articulating both structural and cultural challenges to collaboration, the study contributes to the discourse on design practices and their transformative impact. It offers strategic recommendations to support sustainable innovation through more inclusive and culturally situated design methodologies.
Keywords
Vietnam; Fashion design; Social impact; Togetherness; Đồng-design
DOI
https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.808
Citation
Lam, H.L.,and Cleveland, D.(2025) Strategies to Foster a Collaborative and Sustainable Transformation: A Vietnam Textile & Apparel Case, in Chang, C.-Y., and Hsu, Y. (eds.), IASDR 2025: Design Next, 02-05 December, Taiwan. https://doi.org/10.21606/iasdr.2025.808
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Conference Track
Track 10 - Design Practices & Impacts
Strategies to Foster a Collaborative and Sustainable Transformation: A Vietnam Textile & Apparel Case
This case study explores strategies to support the transformation of Vietnam’s textile and apparel industry, particularly large garment exporting enterprises, toward more sustainable and designed-led business models. In response to increasing socio-economic and environmental challenges, the study identifies closer collaboration with academic institutions as a key enabler for building relevant future- facing skills. Drawing on reflexive practice through structured journal writing, the paper analyses a multi-stakeholder workshop facilitated by the International Labour Organization and the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), highlighting tensions and opportunities in co-design approaches within hierarchical and culturally specific working environments. The concept of đồng- design, a Vietnamese interpretation of co-design grounded in the value of togetherness, is proposed as a culturally resonant practice that can help bridge the gap between traditional production models and emerging design-led innovation. By articulating both structural and cultural challenges to collaboration, the study contributes to the discourse on design practices and their transformative impact. It offers strategic recommendations to support sustainable innovation through more inclusive and culturally situated design methodologies.