Crowdfunding, Innovation and Sustainability in the European Fashion Industry
This book explores the strategic importance of crowdfunding in promoting sustainability and innovation, with a particular focus on its role in supporting start-ups and SMEs in the European fashion industry. Based on a solid theoretical framework, the book establishes links between sustainability theories — including ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the circular economy — and the economics of innovation and alternative finance. In doing so, it provides a conceptual bridge between business strategy and unconventional financing models.
The book reveals how crowdfunding intersects with ESG performance and regulatory compliance in the fashion industry, explores how crowdfunding can be strategically leveraged to support sustainable innovation, and uncovers the role of institutional frameworks and public-private partnerships in shaping crowdfunding ecosystems.
Ultimately, this is a valuable resource for scholars, advanced students and public policy professionals who wish to understand how sustainability-oriented strategies are defined, communicated and financed in contemporary Europe.
Patrizia Gazzola is Full Professor of Management, Business Combination and Business Planning at the Department of Economics, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. She is a member of various scientific boards and a member of the Scientific Committee of international conferences. She conducts research and writes books and articles on Strategy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainable Development, and Systems Theory.
Vincenza Vota holds a PhD in Management, Finance and Accounting from the LIUC – Carlo Cattaneo University, Italy. She is currently involved in the NODES project, funded under the PNRR, where she works on sustainability, innovation, and responsible consumption models. Her research, covering topics such as Social Corporate Responsibility, SDGs, sustainable food consumption and the Circular Economy, has been published in several peer-reviewed journals, and she has contributed to various edited volumes.
Giada Canziani has an interdisciplinary background and a marked interest in innovation-driven economic development. Currently engaged at the innovation center of a leading consulting firm, she contributes to research and applied projects at the intersection of innovation, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. This professional context enables her to deepen her understanding of emergent business models and to explore the practical implications of theoretical frameworks in real-world settings.
