Samenvatting

In this thesis, titled "Unlocking the Path to Sustainability: Multi-Brand Retail SMEs as Agents of Change in the
Fashion Supply Chain," we explore how fashion multi-brand retail Small- to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)
can play a crucial role in driving sustainability and effecting positive change throughout the industry.
Motivated by a desire to contribute to a more sustainable future, this research is focused on sustainability in the
fashion supply chain, aiming to empower fashion multi-brand retail SMEs to adopt sustainable practices and,
ultimately, transform the fashion industry as a whole.
The main research question guiding this thesis is: "In what ways can fashion multi-brand retail SMEs leverage
their position in the fashion supply chain by influencing their brands, educating consumers, and increasing the
company's sustainability performance by 2030?" To address this question, several sub-questions were explored.
These include identifying benchmarks that can drive sustainable practices, determining norms and standards for
increased sustainability of brands, examining strategies for communicating environmental and social impacts,
and exploring sustainable options while maintaining profitability