The Research Journal of the Costume Culture (복식문화연구)

The Costume Culture Association (복식문화학회)
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Evaluation of communication effectiveness of cruelty-free fashion brands - A comparative study of brand-led and consumer-perceived images -

크루얼티 프리 패션 브랜드의 커뮤니케이션 성과 분석 - 브랜드 주도적 이미지와 소비자 지각 이미지에 대한 비교 -

  • Yeong-Hyeon Choi (Center for Data Information, National Institute of Green Technology) ;
  • Sangyung Lee (Center for Data Information, National Institute of Green Technology)
  • 최영현 (국가녹색기술연구소 데이터정보센터) ;
  • 이상영 (국가녹색기술연구소 데이터정보센터)
  • Received : 2024.02.19
  • Accepted : 2024.03.23
  • Published : 2024.04.30
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Abstract

This study assessed the effectiveness of brand image communication on consumer perceptions of cruelty-free fashion brands. Brand messaging data were gathered from postings on the official Instagram accounts of three cruelty-free fashion brands and consumer perception data were gathered from Tweets containing keywords related to each brand. Web crawling and natural language processing were performed using Python and sentiment analysis was conducted using the BERT model. By analyzing Instagram content from Stella McCartney, Patagonia, and Freitag from their inception until 2021, this study found these brands all emphasize environmental aspects but with differing focuses: Stella McCartney on ecological conservation, Patagonia on an active outdoor image, and Freitag on upcycled products. Keyword analysis further indicated consumers perceive these brands in line with their brand messaging: Stella McCartney as high-end and eco-friendly, Patagonia as active and environmentally conscious, and Freitag as centered on recycling. Results based on the assessment of the alignment between brand-driven images and consumer-perceived images and the sentiment evaluation of the brand confirmed the outcomes of brand communication performance. The study revealed a correlation between brand image and positive consumer evaluations, indicating that higher alignment of ethical values leads to more positive consumer assessments. Given that consumers tend to prioritize search keywords over brand concepts, it's important for brands to focus on using visual imagery and promotions to effectively convey brand communication information. These findings highlight the importance of brand communication by emphasizing the connection between ethical brand images and consumer perceptions.

Keywords

References

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