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Home > Research
Research Highlights 
Dr. Haesun Park, assistant professor in the Division of Textiles, Apparel Design, and Merchandising, focuses her research on ethics and social responsibility in apparel production, distribution, and consumption because a significant number of U.S. corporations now source their products from developing countries. International supply chains for apparel are unique because of the labor intensive nature of production and multi-layer contracting systems. Dr. Park’s contribution is important, given increasing attention to social responsibility in apparel production.
Phase I of the study identified components of socially responsible supply chain management. Results indicated the importance of a partnership approach to make management more effective. Design/quality oriented companies are superior in terms of partnership compared to price oriented companies. In phase II Dr. Park identified and examined external factors of supply chain management regarding fair labor. She found that consumer pressure, fear of media, and peer company practices were significant motivators, while enforcement of regulations was not a motivating force. The last phase of the project deals with fair labor management. The more top-management feels pressure from consumers, the more proactive they are toward fair labor management. Data are currently being analyzed to assess how top-management perceives pressure regarding fair labor practices. These studies have been presented at international and national conferences (International Textiles and Apparel Association, Academy of World Marketing and Management, and Society for Business Ethics).
This study provides insight of how fair labor is managed and what makes apparel firms more proactive in the global apparel industry. Collaborators included: Dr. Kathleen Rees at Texas A & M at Kingsville and Dr. Marsha Dickson at the University of Delaware. A new collaborative research project dealing with purchasing practices of U.S. fashion companies and production sourcing supported by the Fair Labor Association includes: Drs. Marsha Dickson and Rosetta LaFleur at the University of Delaware, Dr. Leslie Burns at Oregon State University, and Dr. Young-A Lee at Florida State University.
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