Korean-American Consumer Attitude Toward Luxury Fashion Products

  • Lee, Yoon-Jung (Department of Home Economics Education, Korea University) ;
  • Lee, Jae-Il (Department of Family & Consumer Sciences, Seattle Pacific University)
  • Published : 2008.12.30

Abstract

This study examines the influence of acculturation level and ethnic groups as a fashion reference group on Korean-American consumer attitude toward luxury fashion brands. Of interest is the role of Korean culture, which emphasizes luxury brand consumption due to the Confucion value of 'face', on Korean-American attitudes toward luxury brands. Data were collected from 108 young Korean-Americans living in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and multiple regressions were conducted for the analysis. In general, the respondents had relatively negative attitudes toward luxury fashion brands. Even though the acculturation level did not have a significant influence, attitudes toward luxury fashion brands were influenced by Korean reference groups. Age at immigration did not have a significant relationship with attitudes toward luxury brands. Korean-Americans who maintain ties with Korean culture are more likely to have a positive attitude towards luxury fashion, regardless of familarity with American culture.

Keywords

References

  1. Berry, J. W. (2001). A psychology of immigration. Journal of Social Issues, 57(3), 615-631 https://doi.org/10.1111/0022-4537.00231
  2. Beverland, M. (2004). Uncovering "theories-in-use": Building luxury wine brands. European Journal of Marketing, 38(3/4), 446-466 https://doi.org/10.1108/03090560410518648
  3. Cheng, C. (2000). Acculturation and cultural value orientations of immigrant Chinese Americans: Effects on body image, aesthetics for appearance, and involvement in dress. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames: Iowa
  4. Choi, S. (2001). A study on the attitude toward fashion luxury products. Journal of Clothing Culture, 9(6), 842-854
  5. Hurh, W. M. (1998). The Korean Americans. Westport, CT: Greenwood
  6. Hurh, W. M., & Kim, K. C. (1984). Korean immigrants in America. Rutherfold, NJ: Associated University Press
  7. Kang, J., & Kim, Y. (1998). Ethnicity and acculturation: Influences on Asian-American consumers' purchase decision making for social clothes. Family and Consumer Sciences Research Journal, 27(1), 91-117 https://doi.org/10.1177/1077727X980271004
  8. Kim, K., Kim, K., Lee, S., & Joung, S. (1994). Consumer's attitude toward market opening: Toward a theory of consumer choice in open-market era. Consumer Studies, 5(1), 87-98
  9. Kim, Y. S., & Naughton, F. (1993). Beyond assimilation and pluralism: Syncretic sociocultural adaptation of Korean immigrants in the U.S. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 16, 696-713
  10. Kuo, W. H. (1984). Prevalence of depression among Asian-Americans. Journal of Nervous and Mental Diseases, 172, 449-457 https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-198408000-00002
  11. Lee, K. (1989). Antecedents and consequences of apparel involvement: A multi-attribute model. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Iowa State University, Ames, IA
  12. Lee, W. & Um, K. (1992). Ethnicity and consumer product evaluation: A cross-cultural comparison of Korean immigrants and Americans. In J. Sherry & B. Sternthal (Eds.), Advances in Consumer Research, 19, (pp.429-436). Provo, UT: Association for Consumer Research
  13. Lee, Y., & Lee, J. (2004). A study of Korean-American consumers' fashion and shopping behavior based on a bidimensional model of acculturation. Jounal of the Korean Scoiety of Clothing and Textiles, 28(12), 1545-1553
  14. Lipke, D. (August 29, 2005). Rising sons; men's wear and the Asian-American consumer. DNR, 35(35), 36
  15. Nguyen, H. (2006). Asian market is not so niche anymore. Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, Page 1
  16. Ownbey. S. F., & Horridge, P. E. (1997). Acculturation levels and shopping orientations of Asian-American consumers. Psychology & Marketing, 14(1), 1-18 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6793(199701)14:1<1::AID-MAR1>3.0.CO;2-J
  17. Ownbey, S. F., & Horridge, P. E. (1998). The Suinn- Lew Asian Self-identity Acculturation Scale: Test with a non student, Asian-American sample. Social Behavior and Personality, 26(1), 57-68 https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.1998.26.1.57
  18. Phau, I., & Leng, Y. S. (2008). Attitudes toward domestic and foreign luxury brand apparel: A comparison between status and non-status seeking teenagers. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 12(1), 68-89 https://doi.org/10.1108/13612020810857952
  19. Rhee, S., Chang, J., & Rhee, J. (2003). Acculturation, communication patterns, and self-esteem among Asian and Caucasian American adolescents. Adolescence, 38(152), 749-768
  20. Richins, M. L. (1994). Special possessions and the expression of material values. Journal of Consumer Research, 21, 522-533 https://doi.org/10.1086/209415
  21. Seckler, V. (2005). Marketers focus on Asian-Americans [1], WWD, 190(51), 21
  22. Shim, S., & Chen, Y.Q. (1996). Acculturation characteristics and apparel shopping orientations: Chinese students and spouses from the People's Republic of China residing in the Southwest. Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, 14(3), 204-215 https://doi.org/10.1177/0887302X9601400306
  23. U. S. Census Bureau (2000). U. S. Census 2000: Summary File 1. Retrieved December 1, 2007 from http://factfinder.census.gov
  24. Wong, N. Y., & Ahuvia, A. C. (1998). Personal taste and family face: Luxury consumption in Confucian and Western societies. Psychology and Marketing, 15(5), 423-441 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1520-6793(199808)15:5<423::AID-MAR2>3.0.CO;2-9