Female social sustainability initiatives in the textile industry: an institutional theory and social resource-based view

Purpose
Social sustainability has become increasingly critical for contemporary firms striving to achieve sustainability and social responsibility across their supply chain operations. While social concerns have recently gained considerable attention in academic literature and managerial practice, empirical studies on social sustainability, particularly female social sustainability (FSS), remain limited within the supply chain of critical process industries. Accordingly, this paper investigates FSS initiatives in the textile supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach
This study follows a qualitative methodology to examine the research phenomenon using in-depth information obtained from consultants and corporate managers in the textile industry of Pakistan. A total of 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore the FSS practices in the textile sector.

Findings
Building on the institutional theory-based view (ITBV) and social resource-based view (SRBV), the findings revealed various strategic, operational, female health and well-being, digital and stakeholder initiatives to enhance FSS in the textile supply chain in a developing economy.

Originality/value
We argue that the present study is one of the early empirical studies using the SRBV and ITBV to understand the FSS initiatives in a holistic way in the textile supply chain.