Edinburgh Napier University

  The work presented in the paper is the result of a series of case studies investigating the supply chain management practice adopted by European fashion clothing industry retailers and their suppliers. The results show the global agile supply practices adopted and how these meet the needs of the market. The practices adopted include aspects such as market focus, the nature of the supplier retailer business relationship, collaboration on product development and production, use of information systems, sharing of information and the postponement and decoupling of design and production decisions. Most important among these for agile supply is the focused attention to market fashion trends and sophisticated supply planning systems which identifies and postpones or decoules market critical product design and supply decisions to minimise risk yet maintain short lead times. An important additional dimension is the key role played by local agents and intermediaries based in the supplier countries.