Mapping the history, trajectory, and anatomy of slow and sustainable fashion: a bibliometric analysis

This research analysis was conducted to explore the evolution of scholarly work on slow fashion, which prioritizes ethical production, sustainability, and transparency in the fashion industry. Utilizing bibliometric analysis with Biblioshiny and VOSviewer on a dataset of 343 documents, the study aimed to identify influential perspectives and significant research goals in this domain as bibliometric study aims to bridge the research gap by tracking the development of slow fashion and identifying both well-researched and emerging areas ripe for future investigation. The findings revealed a notable increase in the publication-to-citation ratio over recent decades, with ‘Sustainability Switzerland’ being the leading journal (90 publications) and Choi-T-M recognized as the most prolific author. Hong Kong Polytechnic University ranked first in institutional contributions, while collaboration was strongest among researchers from the USA, UK, and China. Sustainability emerged as a central theme, showing the highest link strength, and future trending topics included corporate social responsibility, consumer behavior, and ethical fashion. This analysis enhances the understanding of slow fashion’s integration with sustainable practices and provides a roadmap for emerging researchers in the field.