Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to explore pre-purchase apparel evaluation cues and examine the effect of demographic variables empirically in the context of a developing country. The initiation for the study was driven by the absence of such prior research and supplemented by the big market opportunity for clothing products in the country under investigation.Design/methodology/approach: A self-administered online survey was used for data collection. Demographic questions, 23 apparel measurement items composed of 17 product-based and 6 sustainability-based items, and an open-ended question were included in the questionnaire. Factor analysis was used for dimension reduction and one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for hypotheses testing.Findings: Garment fit, design features, colour, fabric type and seasonality are the five important characteristics most Ethiopian consumers consider while buying apparel products. Factor analysis resulted in five important factors used for pre-purchase apparel evaluation amongst which the design and extrinsic cue is found to be the most important. Environmental factors in the apparel industry got higher emphasis than social factors. While age and educational background made differences in apparel evaluation, gender did not show a significant difference.Originality/value: The paper provides a founding insight in exploring apparel evaluation cues by considering product- and sustainability-based cues in a developing country context. It also examines the effect of three demographic variables which are rarely studied in such combination.

Purpose: This study aims to quantify and prioritize the main causes of lean wastes and to apply reduction methods by employing better waste cause identification methodologies.Design/methodology/approach: We employed fuzzy techniques for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (FTOPSIS), fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), and failure mode effect analysis (FMEA) to determine the causes of defects. To determine the current defect cause identification procedures, time studies, checklists, and process flow charts were employed. The study focuses on the sewing department of a clothing industry in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Findings: These techniques outperform conventional techniques and offer a better solution for challenging decision-making situations. Each lean waste’s FMEA criteria, such as severity, occurrence, and detectability, were examined. A pairwise comparison revealed that defect has a larger effect than other lean wastes. Defects were mostly caused by inadequate operator training. To minimize lean waste, prioritizing their causes is crucial.Research limitations/implications: The research focuses on a case company and the result could not be generalized for the whole industry.Practical implications: The study used quantitative approaches to quantify and prioritize the causes of lean waste in the garment industry and provides insight for industrialists to focus on the waste causes to improve their quality performance.Originality/value: The methodology of integrating FMEA with FAHP and FTOPSIS was the new contribution to have a better solution to decision variables by considering the severity, occurrence, and detectability of the causes of wastes. The data collection approach was based on experts’ focus group discussion to rate the main causes of defects which could provide optimal values of defect cause prioritization.

Objectives. Awkwardly designed sewing workstations in the garment industry cause work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSDs) that cause global health concerns for industrial sewing operators. This study was conducted with the aim of evaluating health risks and improvement interventions for sewing operators in Ethiopia. Methods. The strain index and standardized Nordic musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) questionnaire were used for data collection. Binary and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the data and identify significant factors. Results. The study revealed that operators’ sitting chair design in the sewing section has significant correlation with the occurrence of pain in different body parts, particularly in the upper and lower back body parts with a high odds ratio of more than 93% in the lower and upper back areas. Hence, the sitting chair was redesigned considering the operators’ anthropometric measurements and workstation requirements to improve workers’ safety and productivity. Conclusion. The study concludes that WRMSDs were significant in different body parts so it was crucial for appropriate intervention in redesigning the sewing workstations, particularly the sitting chair, to ensure health and safety of industrial sewing operators. The study therefore recommends implementation of the proposed ergonomic sitting chair to improve operators’ safety and productivity.

Next to the oil industry, the apparel industries are strongly criticized for their negative impact on the ecosystem. Due to the current global trend, manufacturing industries are expected to consider sustainability issues beyond conventional business goals. In this regard, the study investigates the Ethiopian apparel and textile manufacturing industries’ sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) practices. A descriptive research design methodology using a cross‐sectional survey was used. Data were collected through self‐administered questionnaires. A simple random sampling technique to decide sample size and a purposive sampling technique to select respondents were employed. A total of 71 participants provided a valid response. The metrics for the survey were developed from different literature, and structural equation modeling was used for data analysis. The results demonstrated that the state of the implementation of SSCM practices by the fashion manufacturing industry in Ethiopia is still in its promising stages. The hypotheses test results showed that SSCM practices positively impact SSCM performance and competitiveness at p values of 0.05, except environmental practices with economic performance. The study provides additional insight into the growing field of literature that examines the relationships among SSCM practices, performance, and competitiveness. The findings offer insight for industrial policymakers to improve sustainability for global competitiveness. The Ethiopian government is making significant efforts to boost the manufacturing sector through the “Let Ethiopia Produce” campaign, and sustainability is among the significant necessities for the global competitiveness of the Ethiopian manufacturing industry.

Environmental, social, and economic concerns in the apparel manufacturing industries have grown in recent years. The sustainability of the apparel supply chain management in developing countries is characterized by operations highly hazardous to the environment and unethical to society and of important economic value. Studies showed that socioeconomic and cultural differences in different countries affect the success of sustainability practices. Therefore, extensive research is required to measure the current challenges of sustainable practices from environmental, social, and economic perspectives of the apparel industry. Due to unsustainable practices, competitiveness in export and local markets is low in the Ethiopian apparel industries. This paper explores the effect of different factors on the sustainable practices of Ethiopian apparel manufacturing industries. A conceptual framework was formulated to measure sustainable practices. Questionnaires, interviews, and secondary data sources were used for data collection. The data are prepared and pretested for reliability. Integrated interpretive structural modelling and structural equation modelling techniques have been employed for model building and data analyses to see the relationship between the challenges and the existing practices. The proposed model was validated using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The Bootstrapping technique in smart partial least square ensures the reliability of the data for small sample size. The result showed a significant relationship between the factors and sustainable practices. All the environmental, economic, and social perspectives were statistically tested and found significant at values of 0.05. Sustainable practice in the apparel manufacturing supply chain was found to be low with a mean value of three. This performance is far below the average standard in developing and developed countries. This research provides customized areas of intervention from environmental and social aspects that recognize the societal difference towards sustainability awareness and motivation to implement sustainability initiatives in Ethiopian apparel manufacturing industries. This research could provide awareness for business owners and policymakers and help understand the limitations of existing sustainability practices and the need for interventions. Therefore, apparel manufacturing industries could be potential sourcing destinations for global apparel manufacturing industries.