Managing Sustainability in a Fashion Supply Chain: The Case of an Italian SME

Sustainability regulations and voluntary standards are increasingly transforming fashion supply chains into information-intensive systems, in which firms are expected to document practices that extend beyond their organisational boundaries. This is particularly relevant in the fashion supply chain, where, although these requirements are usually defined by large focal firms, their implementation often depends on small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) suppliers that collect, interpret, and transmit sustainability information across multiple tiers. However, how SMEs manage sustainability information flows across organisational boundaries remains underexplored. To address this issue, the study draws on knowledge governance literature on supply chains and adopts a single case study based on semi-structured interviews, with an Italian SME operating in a fashion supply chain. Findings show that sustainability information management is mainly driven by customer requests and unfolds as a document-based process of acquisition, internal processing, and dissemination. The SME acts as an intermediary knowledge broker, translating external requirements into operational requests for suppliers, laboratories, and consultants, while sending documentary evidence back to customers. However, the process remains constrained by limited internal verification capabilities and strong dependence on third parties. The analysis identifies a hybrid governance configuration across the fashion supply chain, dominated by contract-based mechanisms, reinforced by market-based pressures, and supported by trust-based coordination, whereas reciprocity-based mechanisms appear marginal. The study contributes to knowledge governance and sustainable supply chain literature by showing how SMEs manage sustainability information under asymmetrical pressure and resource constraints, highlighting both their enabling role and organisational barriers to sustainability implementation. From a managerial perspective, the findings suggest that SMEs should strengthen internal management through simple procedures, clearer allocation of responsibilities, and shared tools for document collection and storage. At the same time, focal firms and policymakers should provide greater support, ensuring that standards, documentary obligations, and reporting tools do not become unsustainable administrative burdens.