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This article combines world-systems, decolonial, eco-feminist and post-human ecological approaches to deconstruct the planetary crisis of the hegemonic civilization. Underpinned by anthropocentric, androcentric, hetero-patriarchal, Euro/Western-centric, modern/colonial and capitalist systems of power, this civilization causes devastating socioecological effects. Globalized through (neo)colonialism/(neo)imperialism, it has subjugated the rural under the urban and the Global South under the North, becoming globally hegemonic. Through the coloniality of power hegemonic conceptions of progress, growth, development and modernity have been spread, procuring the loyalty of semi-peripheral and peripheral regimes into a civilizational obsession with endless accumulation based on the “mastery of nature.” Most “postcolonial” elites, especially across “emerging economies,” have not broken with this coloniality. They often reproduce govern-mentalities aimed at “catching-up” with, cloning, emulating, imitating or conforming to hegemonic models enacted in the North’s metropolitan cores. Overcoming this crisis requires not only a critique of neoliberal capitalist modernity, but a world-systemic transformation towards ecosufficient lifeways based on indigenous, eco-feminist, and post-human alternatives.

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore how Australian fashion designers perceive the impact and opportunities offered by the Chinese textile and clothing industry. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative research design used personally administered, semi-structured interviews. A purposeful sample used interviewees drawn from proactive fashion business owners. The sample covered four clothing categories. Thematic data analysis was used, and data integrity was assured, using well-recognised techniques including triangulation and constant comparison. Findings - The Queensland fashion designers are experiencing significant impacts from the current economic and manufacturing situations and the challenges presented by developments in China. They respond to their operational concerns, but do not deal strategically with contemporary challenges. They are unaware of opportunities that the Chinese textile and clothing industry offers, struggling with a global perspective. Although they are aware of issues with intellectual property, they have little experience in protecting their intangible assets. Research limitations/implications - Future research could link the proposed scenario building with interviews, to develop an even more robust research design. Extensions to other Asia Pacific countries could reveal common issues and any unique perspectives. Practical implications - Application of the proposed model and the pursuit of the scenarios for future development could assist fashion designers in the formation of a sense of community. A return to craftsmanship could nurture the local fashion design community, and create offshore links and relationships, facilitated by technology. Originality/value - The empirical study proposes a new model, suggesting approaches and solutions, not previously considered in the context of fashion designers and their opportunities in doing business with China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]