The Evolution of a Creative Industry : The industrial dynamics and spatial evolution of the global fashion design industry

Abstract

The recent growth of creative industries has raised the interest of both policy makers and academic scholars. However, we know very little about the forces that drive the development and geography of these industries. This dissertation provides an in-depth study of the industrial dynamics and spatial evolution of the global fashion design industry as a prime example of a creative industry. By adopting an evolutionary economic perspective, we analyse the determinants of firm competitiveness and spatial concentration in Paris, New York, London and Milan. Special attention is paid to the Dutch fashion industry and Amsterdam as an emerging second-tier fashion city. The main conclusion holds that firms derive their success from the labour market experience of the founder and key employees rather than from the urban environments they operate in. As such, this study provides an alternative view on spatial clustering in creative industries.