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Influence of Living Abroad on People in General and Their Clothing Style: A Case Study of Koreans  

Yu HaeKyung (Dept. of Fashion & Industry, University of Incheon)
Kim Chanju (Dept. of Fashion & Industry, University of Incheon)
Publication Information
Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles / v.28, no.12, 2004 , pp. 1644-1654 More about this Journal
Abstract
As globalization has been accelerating in recent years, more people have opportunities to live abroad for an extended period of time, which is known to have strong influence on consumers. The main purposes of this study were to examine if and how sojourning experience could bring changes to people in general and in clothing styles with focus on Korean adults. The researchers conducted in-depth interviews on a total of thirty-six women and twenty-one men who lived in foreign countries more than two years and have been back in Korea longer than one year. The major results indicated that in addition to personalities, age, length of stay, activities during stay, gender, and cultural distances played important roles in bringing long-term changes on people. Re-established self-identity, changes in values, and openness toward diversity were major common changes observed in the interviewees. In addition, they became educated consumers with good knowledge of diverse brands and prices, and emphasized value as opposed to price. Changes in clothing styles were noted mainly among women. They placed high importance on having their own style, coordination and appropriateness, which were consistent with the general changes. Influences of different cultures were also noted.
Keywords
Living abroad; Self-identity; Diversity; Clothing style; Korean culture;
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