3.1 Blockchain Technology Implementation: Drivers, Enablers, and Structural Barriers
The integration of digital traceability architectures into artisanal production environments exposes a fundamental tension between theoretical transparency models and the operational realities of fragmented manufacturing networks. Theoretical literature identifies distributed ledger technology as a transformative mechanism capable of securing end-to-end product authenticity, mitigating counterfeit exposure, and recording verified environmental claims across complex textile tiers (Patel & Sharma, 2024; Sanda et al., 2023). In the context of Italian industrial supply chains, the imperative for verifiable provenance is magnified by severe vulnerabilities observed during systemic disruptions, where fragmented communication lines and multi-tiered supplier opacity compromise logistic coordination and regional production continuity (Bottani et al., 2023). While conceptual frameworks emphasize that decentralized verification inherently eliminates information asymmetries (Sanda et al., 2023), empirical examinations demonstrate that structural barriers—including prohibitive infrastructure costs, insufficient digital interoperability, and traditional organizational inertia—impede uniform technological adoption among small and medium enterprises (Patel & Sharma, 2024). Consequently, translating theoretical traceability principles into practical Italian slow fashion networks requires bridging the governance gap between legacy craft practices and standardized immutable data inputs, ensuring that digital ledger solutions reinforce rather than disrupt regional artisanal workflows.