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Call for papers on "Sustainable Luxury"

Papers to be considered for an edited collection

February 2013

Greenleaf Publishing is inviting contributions on the topic of "SUSTAINABLE LUXURY", for inclusion in an edited collection. Editors: Miguel Angel Gardetti, Director of the Center for Studies of Sustainable Luxury, Argentina (mag@lujosustentable.org) and Ana Laura Torres, Coordinator of the Sustainable Textile Center, Argentina (alt@ctextilsustentable.org.ar).
The deadline for abstracts has been extended to 1st March 2013.

Basics

Most consumers of luxury products and services use them as status symbols - symbols of success. However, the definition of success - and the way it is perceived by others - is changing. Many of these successful consumers now want the brands they use to reflect their concerns and aspirations for a better world.

In this context, we can observe shifts in the luxury paradigm, emerging from major changes in social dynamics. In future - although it is becoming apparent even now - the highest-quality product or service will be the one that generates the most benefit to all involved in its production and trade. Consumers' knowledge of that benefit will be essential to their elite experience, and to the prestige ascribed to them by their peers.

Luxury brands exert a strong influence on consumers globally, promoting concepts of quality, style and, ultimately, success. This power could therefore be harnessed to drive more responsible consumption. The scale and urgency of the sustainable/responsible consumption challenge requires all those who use these powerful channels of communication, which includes iconic brands, to promote a more authentic understanding of quality, style and success: one that includes respect for each other and the planet upon which we depend.

Purveyors of luxury goods can influence consumer behaviour through product design and by positive example. Better product design can reduce the direct impacts of production and improve performance efficiency; positive examples can be communicated through advertising, the sponsorship of positive role models, and by providing clear information to customers about responsible material sourcing.

This approach to luxury requires truly excellent social and environmental performance; in fact, consumers will expect excellence in this area, because they expect it in all aspects of a luxury brand.

A new approach such as this needs to begin with a process of internal change, thus encouraging sustainable business practices across all areas of the organisation and its supply chain.

Scope

The book intends to explore as many different dimensions of the issue as possible, broadly based on the following topics:

Sustainability and business management in luxury goods companies

• Do global sustainability-related challenges relate to business strategies and practices that contribute to a sustainable world and, at the same time, create company value?

• Can value chain management promote the reduction of environmental impacts and also consider social issues?

• Have the impacts related to use of the various materials been adequately analysed?

• How does the whole process, from raw material to finished fabrics and other end products, impact on labour conditions, and use of energy, water and other resources?

• Is there a strong and enriching relationship between consumer and product?
• Are luxury products being made that stimulate debate, that call for a deep sense of "meaning", or that necessitate the work of skilled craftspeople?
• Are luxury products being designed that inspire confidence and ability, that promote versatility, ingenuity, customisation, or individual participation?

• What would be the necessary conditions for the co-existence of luxury and sustainability?
• What does current consumption look like?

• Would a bottom-up approach in innovation processes be useful for luxury products?

• In some countries/regions could the relationship between luxury and entrepreneurship be regarded as important?

• Fashion and textiles (including carpets)
• Tourism (including the hotel industry)
• Perfumes and beauty
• Transport (air, ground [including cars and motorbikes] and maritime transport [including yachts])
• Arts
• Telephony
• Household products (appliances, computers, and audio-visual equipment)
• Jewellery
• ... among others

Contributions

The above list is not exhaustive; other contributions on relevant topics will also be considered. This project aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of the topic and, as such, presentations based on different approaches, whether reflexive, empirical, hands-on or applied theory, are of interest. Theory papers should be between 4,000 and 6,000 words, and case studies between 2,500 and 4,000 words. Papers must be submitted as per the editorial guidelines. These are available from Greenleaf Publishing.

Schedule

Authors whose abstracts are selected should submit their full papers by 2 June 2013. Successful candidates will be invited to submit their revised final papers by 16 September 2013. All papers will be peer-reviewed by an international panel of subject matter experts. Successful candidates for inclusion in the book will be requested to submit their full papers by 31 October 2013. Publication is provisionally tabled for Spring 2014.

Milestones:

• Abstract submission: 1 March 2013
• Full paper submission: 2 June 2013
• Revised paper submission: 16 September 2013
• Final paper acceptance (by the international review panel): 31 October 2013

Contact details

For further information, to discuss ideas for contributions and to submit abstracts/proposals, please contact the Guest Editors:

For contributor guidelines, go here 

or contact

Tom Harryman

Greenleaf Publishing

Aizlewood Business Centre

Aizlewood's Mill

Sheffield S3 8GG

UK

Tel: +44 (0)114 282 3475

Fax: +44 (0)114 282 3476

tom.harryman@greenleaf-publishing.com

www.greenleaf-publishing.com