Sustainable Fashion, Unsustainable Advertising: A Case Study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21814/vista.6253

Keywords:

fashion, sustainability, advertising, social responsibility

Abstract

This article discusses how sustainable fashion brands, characterised as small and medium-sized enterprises, can align their advertising initiatives and strategies with the principles of sustainability and the market. Based on the master's thesis entitled Alternativas Entre Luxo e Desperdício: Publicidade no Contexto da Moda Sustentável (Alternatives Between Luxury and Trash: The Advertising in the Context of Sustainable Fashion; Silva, 2024), the text addresses the evolution of fashion, contextualising the transition from an industry focused on mass production to a sector that increasingly incorporates social and environmental concerns. The central discussion focuses on the challenges faced by small and medium-sized brands in communicating sustainable values in a market still characterised by traditional practices and excessive consumerism. The marketing and advertising strategies adopted by four brands, two Brazilian and two Portuguese, are analysed, along with their impact on public perception and engagement with responsible consumption.

The focus is on developing advertising language and other resources aimed at presenting the differentials of sustainability, using green marketing and seeking a balance between profitability and ethics. The article presents reflections and recommendations for advertising in the context of sustainable fashion, encouraging small and medium-sized brands to refine their strategies and consumers to adopt more conscious practices, highlighting advertising as an essential tool to drive change in the market and contribute to a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.

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Author Biographies

Cícero Feitosa da Silva, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal

Cícero Feitosa da Silva holds a master's degree in Communication Sciences — specialising in Public Relations, Advertising, and Marketing (University Fernando Pessoa — Portugal) and a master's degree in Market Research and Consumer Insight (Higher School of Advertising and Marketing — São Paulo/Brazil). He holds undergraduate degrees in Sociology (Metropolitan University of Santos — São Paulo/Brazil) and in Institutional Communication from an institution in Brasília, Brazil. He is a senior consultant in strategic planning, research, and social communication.

Francisco Mesquita, Faculdade de Ciências Humanas e Sociais, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal/Centro de Estudos de Comunicação e Sociedade, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Universidade do Minho, Braga, Portugal

Francisco Mesquita holds a postdoctoral qualification from the School of Communications and Arts at the University of São Paulo (Brazil), a PhD and a master's degree from the University of Minho (Guimarães, Portugal), and an undergraduate degree from Fernando Pessoa University (Porto, Portugal). He is a lecturer at University Fernando Pessoa, teaching in the areas of Advertising, Design, Creativity, and Innovation. He coordinates postgraduate courses in Marketing, Advertising, and Design for small and medium-sized enterprises. His artistic practice involves the use of "intelligent" pigments, which change colour in response to specific environmental stimuli.

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Published

2025-05-23

How to Cite

Silva, C. F. da, & Mesquita, F. (2025). Sustainable Fashion, Unsustainable Advertising: A Case Study of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Vista, (15), e025006. https://doi.org/10.21814/vista.6253