Discussing the B Corp: New paradigm, new economy
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The first national meeting of textile and clothing professors took place in Madison, Wisconsin in June 1959. With a mission to advance excellence in education, scholarship and innovation, and their global applications, the International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) is a professional and educational association of scholars, educators, and students in the textile, apparel, and merchandising disciplines in higher education.
This site provides free, public access to the ITAA annual conference proceedings beginning in 2015. Previous proceedings can be found by following the "Additional ITAA Proceedings" link on the left sidebar of this page.
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When a company commits to operating as a Benefit Corporation (or B Corps) they must agree to the following dictum: “We envision a new sector of the economy which harnesses the power of private enterprise to create public benefit. This sector is comprised of a new type of corporation…which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders” (B Lab, Inc., 2012). While there have been numerous attempts to introduce certification metrics promoting sustainable business practices in various industries, the researchers present an alternative to the notion of industry-specific certifications as the most effective course of action for promoting a sustainable society. The B Corps is presented to the textile and apparel sector as the next logical step in the evolution of sustainable business practices due to its cross-industry application. Additionally, B Lab, the non-profit behind the B Corps movement, has been instrumental in the legal redefinition of a corporation indicating a paradigm shift towards a ‘new economy.’