Upgrading and supply chain management: a study in the textile and clothing sector

Using the lenses of the Global Value Chain analysis, this paper explores the concept of upgrading and the role of supply chain management in the context of the Italian textile and apparel industry. By means of five case studies, we highlight different upgrading trajectories, the internal and external drivers and which supply chain management leverages were applied. Moreover, we analyse the impacts of upgrading on supply chain performance. Results show that despite similar external and internal drivers, different forms of upgrading can occur even within the same company. Moreover, supply chain management practices appear fundamental not only for efficiency related upgrading but for all the forms. As a consequence, there are significant impacts also on the supply chain performance.