Digital Transformation in the Fashion Industry: A Bibliometric Analysis from a Social Science Perspective

Abstract

Digital transformation is increasingly reshaping the fashion industry through technology-driven innovation, sustainable practices, digital design, artificial intelligence, e-commerce and new forms of consumer engagement. This study aims to examine the current research trends and intellectual structure of social science research on digital transformation in the fashion industry using a bibliometric analysis approach. Bibliographic data were retrieved from the Scopus database, covering publications from 2005 to 2026, with 2026 records representing publications indexed up to the date of data extraction. A structured search strategy was applied within the title, abstract and keyword fields, followed by a systematic screening process based on the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. After applying subject-area, document-type and eligibility criteria, 410 publications were retained for final analysis. The data were processed using BiblioSpy® to generate bibliometric indicators, descriptive statistics and keyword co-occurrence visualisations. The analysis examined publication output, citation impact, annual publication and citation trends, leading source titles, highly cited publications, productive institutions and countries, and dominant conceptual clusters. The findings reveal substantial growth in publication productivity, particularly from 2020 onwards, with 2025 recording the highest annual output. The field also demonstrates strong citation visibility, international collaboration and interdisciplinary engagement. China, South Korea, the United States, Italy and the United Kingdom emerged as leading contributors, while key journals reflected intersections between fashion education, sustainability, textiles, marketing and human-computer interaction. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified major themes related to sustainability, Industry 4.0, circular economy, digital fashion, artificial intelligence, consumer behaviour and fashion education. This study provides a systematic overview of the field and offers a foundation for future research on technology-driven transformation in fashion.