• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.123-138
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• 2013

This paper studied the apparel product attributes that women in the new elderly generation require in formal wears and in casual wears. The purpose of this study was to provide the design guideline when considering the changing and diverse buying patterns of the new elderly female consumers as opposed to the traditional elderly generation. We employed a qualitative study methodology of one-on-one in-depth interview with open coding. Between August 10 and October 3 of 2012, we interviewed sixteen female consumers of age 60 or above residing in the metropolitan area who considered themselves as young-minded. Our findings were as follows: The consumer-required attributes that the new elderly women wanted to present have five dimensions of symbolism, aesthetic, fitness, usefulness, and maintenance. The main focus of the apparel product attributes that the new elderly women wanted was the dimension of symbolism in formal wears and the dimensions of usefulness and maintenance in casual wears. The new elderly females were the emerging group of consumers of diversified clothing products who emphasized overall balance and wore appropriately for occasions. Apparel products for the new elderly females should incorporate the design attributes that they want as well as the overall balance among individual wears.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.57-72
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• 2024

Currently, Korea is on the verge of entering into an ultra-aged society and the associated market size is growing. In this regard, customer-centered design that understands the consumer needs of the new silver generation, which is emerging as a new consumer group, and reflects them in products is the key to the success of the high-value-added fashion industry. Therefore, this study reviewed the changes in physical, biological, social, and psychological characteristics of the new silver generation, through a review of related books and previous studies, and secured the direction for clothing product development for the new silver generation. The literature review was supplemented by group interviews to accurately identify the needs of silver consumers. In addition, the study conducted case analysis through web searches of fashion magazines, newspaper articles, brand web sites, and trend information sites to investigate the market trends of one-mile wear products that have emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the characteristics of one-mile wear brands, and products for new silver women, including size specification analysis and sewing techniques that minimize skin irritation while reflecting the consumer's characteristics. Based on the results of this study, a competitive design and product development were proposed from an economic and industrial perspective that can enhance the product value and maximize the marketing effect by developing consumer-oriented one-mile comfort wear products with aesthetic, practical, functional, and economic values that satisfy the characteristics and needs of new silver women.