Product Innovation for Sustainable Development in the Fashion Industry: A Bibliometric Review

This study presents a systematic review of new product development (NPD) in the textile and fashion industry, conducted throughbibliometric techniques and thematic synthesis under the PRISMA 2020 protocol. By combining performance analysis, sciencemapping, and qualitative coding, the research aims to clarify how the literature has addressed sustainability in relation to newproduct design and innovation, with specific attention to the evolution of research streams, the barriers and enablers of circularbusiness models, and the role of consumer engagement and digital technologies in fostering trust, transparency, and processinnovation. The findings reveal three major trajectories: (i) growing attention to consumer engagement and communicationstrategies to enhance awareness and trust; (ii) increasing diffusion of circular business models, still challenged by internal resist-ance and systemic constraints; and (iii) the expanding use of digital technologies, such as blockchain and artificial intelligence, toenable traceability, reuse, and innovation in production and distribution. Overall, the study provides a comprehensive frameworkthat integrates communication, circular economy, and digitalization, offering both theoretical insights and practical implicationsfor aligning sustainability objectives with product innovation strategies.