From Waste to Luxury Fashion at Elvis & Kresse: A Business Model for Sustainable and Social Innovation in the Circular Economy

Maria Fernanda Ortiz Dominguez and Yasser Ahmad Bhatti ()
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Maria Fernanda Ortiz Dominguez: School of Business and Management, Queen Mary University London, London E1 4NS, UK
Yasser Ahmad Bhatti: MBS College of Business and Entrepreneurship, King Abdullah Economic City 23965-2609, Saudi Arabia

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 19, 1-17

Abstract: Managing landfill waste is essential to sustainable resource utilization. With a focus on the luxury fashion industry, this paper highlights the role that sustainable and social innovations can play in reducing environmental waste and improving social outcomes. Elvis & Kresse is a purpose-driven case study, because it was founded to eradicate a problem that had thus far received little attention, namely the problem of disposing of end-of-life fire-hoses. From a business model and circular economy perspective, this article explains how the company’s rescue–transform–donate model has helped to build a sustainable and socially oriented yet profitable luxury brand. The analysis of the case suggests that for scholars, the typical business model canvas merits some revision beyond the current business focus on the financial bottom line to account for the social and ethical dimensions. For practitioners, this case demonstrates how the circular economy can be compatible with luxury fashion by turning waste into durable, fashionable products.

Keywords: business model; circular economy; sustainable innovation; social innovation; luxury fashion; waste (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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