PROSPERITY IN ITALIAN FASHION: NETWORKS OF CAREHOW MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES REDEFINE THE RELATION BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC AND THE SOCIAL

The fashion system is notorious for perpetuating inequalities and exploitation, driven by entrenched power dynamics that dictate which ideas and interests prevail. While sustainability often dominates di-scussions on alternative paradigms (Henninger et al., 2016), care has emerged as a critical perspective, emphasizing processes over outcomes (Franzo, 2023). This approach highlights practices that respon-sibly manage time, resources, and expertise, fostering positive relationships between people, the envi-ronment, and territories. This paper draws on data from CreAbility, an ongoing action-research project involving Italian micro and small fashion enterprises, as well as associations and designers known for their social and cultural impact. The project aims to foster networks of practices that promote collabo-ration and enrich the theoretical debate on fashion’s potential to generate social and economic value (Moore et al., 2023). Through periodic focus groups with diverse stakeholders, the study examines the concept of prosperity beyond mere economic gain, exploring how these actors challenge existing hierar-chies and contribute to ecological, social, cultural, and economic well-being. The initial findings highlight key aspects for the fashion system to address in order to act as a positive agent of change in the Italian context.