Principles of the circular economy as an integral part of sustainable management of luxury fashion

The aim of this thesis is to provide a detailed overview of the environment of second-hand luxury clothing stores in the context of implementing circular economy principles, including the legislative framework, business expectations, and consumer attitudes of those who shop in such stores. The research will be conducted in the capital cities of the Czech Republic and the Federal Republic of Germany, specifically in Prague and Berlin, where the highest concentration of such stores can be found. An integral part of the thesis will be the analysis of conceptual approaches within relevant circular economy legislation related to textiles, such as the EU Circular Economy Action Plan at the European level, the national Strategic Framework for Circular Economy of the Czech Republic 2040 (so-called Circular Czechia 2040), and Germany’s Nationale Kreislaufwirtschaftsstrategie. The topic is gaining importance, particularly in light of new obligations related to textile waste management and represents a significant opportunity to understand the broader context, which will help in responding to upcoming changes in waste management policy (e.g., the revision of the EU Waste Framework Directive). In addition to the analysis of relevant documents, both qualitative and quantitative surveys will be conducted. Semi structured interviews will be held with business representatives and questionnaire surveys with consumers. The results of this work will offer insight into the current situation and further possibilities for implementing circular economy principles in the luxury fashion sector not only in the Czech Republic but also within a broader European context.