Agile Supply Chain Management and Responsiveness in the Fashion Industry: A Study of Ready-to-Wear Producers in Aba and Lagos

This study investigates agile supply chain management practices and their effects on market responsiveness in the ready-to-wear fashion industry, comparing producers in Aba, Abia State (South East), and Lagos (South West) Nigeria. The Nigerian fashion industry, driven by a vibrant domestic consumer culture and growing export interest, faces volatile demand fluctuations tied to cultural seasons, social events, and influencer-driven trends. Agile supply chain management, characterised by demand sensing, flexible sourcing, responsive production scheduling, and rapid distribution, is theorised as a critical capability for competing in this environment. Using a comparative survey design, structured questionnaires were administered to 80 fashion producers and logistics managers across both clusters. Agility dimensions examined include production flexibility, supplier switching speed, logistics response time, and design-to-delivery cycle duration. Market responsiveness is measured through order fulfilment lead time, trend adoption speed, and stockout rates during peak demand periods. Regression and comparative analysis between the two clusters are applied. The study draws on agile supply chain literature and fashion logistics research from emerging market contexts. Findings are expected to show that Lagos-based producers demonstrate higher logistics agility due to better access to diversified suppliers and third-party logistics services, while Aba producers show strength in flexible production. Recommendations address fashion producers, logistics service providers, and the Nigerian fashion industry cluster associations. Keywords: agile supply chain, fashion industry, responsiveness, Aba, Lagos.