A DECADE OF STUDIES ON SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES: TRENDS AND FUTURE EDUCATIONAL DIRECTIONS

Sustainability in the textile industry has become a critical issue due to environmental degradation, resource depletion, and pollution linked to fast fashion and linear production models. This study examines the intellectual development of sustainable textile research from 2015 to June 2024 and its implications for education. A bibliometric analysis was conducted on 1,286 Scopus-indexed articles, of which 698 met the inclusion criteria after semantic filtering. Performance analysis and science mapping identified publication trends, thematic clusters, and collaboration networks. Five dominant research areas emerged: sustainability integration, waste management, material innovation, Industry 4.0 technologies, and socio-cultural literacy. The geographic distribution of research shifted toward emerging economies, particularly India and China, reflecting the concentration of textile production and policy emphasis on circularity. Findings suggest that sustainable textile education must integrate circular economy principles, digital and data-driven design skills, environmental ethics, and socio-cultural awareness. Embedding these dimensions in curricula can equip future textile professionals to innovate across ecological, technological, and cultural domains.