Made in Sweden : a study of fashion companies' attitudes to establishing production in Sweden

The textile and fashion industry is known for its globalized value chain and the numerous negative environmental impacts it entails. Textile production in Sweden was common until the 1970 ´s, when the production moved to other countries to achieve cost benefits. Today, over 80% of the clothing and home textiles that are consumed in Sweden, is produced in countries not belonging to the European Union. Aside from long transport distances, these countries often have a lack of environmental legislation. This study examines experts in the textile and fashion industry, fashion companies and a manufacturing company with the help of qualitative semi-structured interviews to identify fashion companies' attitude to establishing part of their production in Sweden. In addition to this, the study aims to investigate the conditions required for production in Sweden to be economically and environmentally sustainable, in order to shed light on, and contribute to, knowledge about the conditions required to enable Swedish production in the fashion industry. The results of the study identify economic- and production capacity as two of the biggest challenges in relation to Swedish-produced fashion. Concurrently, several economic- and environmental aspects, technical development and automation are highlighted as opportunities by both experts, fashion companies and the manufacturing company. The study's respondents consistently show a positive attitude towards Swedish production, yet attention is drawn to a wait-and-see attitude among the fashion companies towards establishing part of their production in Sweden