From Design to Production: Innovations Driving Leadership Transformation in the Textile Industry

Abstract

In the context of digitalisation, the adoption of Industry 4.0, and the intensification of ESG requirements, the textile industry is confronted with the necessity of structural transformation. The functional gap between design, production, and the market, which reduces the efficiency of value creation chains, remains a systemic problem of the sector. This study aims to analyse the mechanisms of textile business transformation through the integration of design and production within design-to-production (D2P) systems and to identify the role of innovative leadership. Methodologically, the work is grounded in a qualitative conceptual approach comprising an analytical literature review, the synthesis of D2P models, and the interpretation of industry practices. Drawing on the cases of Inditex (Zara), Nike, and SAG, the study demonstrates that digital technologies acquire strategic significance only when organisationally integrated into a unified value chain management system. The most effective transformation models are based on three elements: digital integration, sustainable production models (circular economy, ESG), and innovative leadership as the key mechanism for coordinating change. The principal conclusion is that D2P transformation in the textile industry is not merely a technological but also a managerial process, the success of which depends on integrated digital systems and leaders capable of synchronising design, production, and market.