• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.15-36
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• 2010

This study aims to examine if a consumer's evaluations of and purchase intentions towards textiles and apparel-related cultural products are influenced by their culture, as indicated by their nationalities. Additionally, several psychological variables, such as novelty-seeking tendency, world-mindedness, and familiarity with Northeast Asian culture were included in the analyses to compare the relative importance of cultural influences with the importance of individual characteristics. To conduct a quantitative analysis, we collected data from 400 female consumers in two countries: 200 from the USA and 200 from China. Key findings showed that, nationality and novelty-seeking were found to have a strong influence on purchase intention when product evaluation variables were not included. Evaluation of appearance and Northeast Asian design emerged highly significant predictors of purchase intention for Korean cultural products, regardless of the product type. Cross cultural comparative research on cultural product evaluations is extremely rare. This study focused on groups of consumers residing in the US and China and asked them to evaluate a series of textiles and apparel-related cultural products produced in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.165-182
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• 1994

Korea's clothing industry which has been country's leading export industry and basic strategical industry is now faced with many difficulties both domestically and internationally. Domestically it is faced with continuing shortage of manpower in both production line and management high labour cost causing increase in price putting more weight on behavior of consumers resulting in change of industrial environment and continuing structural problems of industry itself. Internationally it is faced with strengthening of import regulations and protectionism of developed countries and rapid emergence of underdeveloped countries as leading exporting nations. In reality export plays the most essential role in our economy and is especially sensitive to the external environmental factors. Already economic bloc phonomenon can be seen everywhere and is continuing to accelerate in place such as E. U in Europ, North & South America as NAFTA, and South East Asian contries which recent tendency of economic unity effort is present. These countries of such economic blocs are imposing heavy custom duties reinforcing provision of country origin and acting out strict inspection regulations in order to protect the interest of their own industry. Therefore it is vital to manufacture excellent quality goods For these reasons study in this area has brought attention in Korea as well as worldwide in the recent years. Apparel industry which requires professional technology and ability is the most competitive international business. In order to challenge the international market the high level of intelligence is most required to produce high quality goods. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between functions and roles of marketing and to approach problems in more efficient manner. Apparel industry is composed of various programs such as design pattern making merchandising and textile science. To succeed in the business is to give the highest satisfaction to the targeted market. Hence this study will example the factors that determine the Cost Quality and Performance of apparel products. The study will involve following steps; firstly establish relationship between the quality concept and productivity of apparel products Secondly inquire in to marketing strategy laying stress on apparel production related factors focusing on merchandising marketing production and operations Thirdly prospect 21st century apparel industry focusing on garment production and trade and also other countries structural improvement Fourthly establish the new dimension of competitive factors by grasping the actual circumstance of Korea's apparel industry in the international market. The research method will include; First reality approach method by analysing the present state of industry Second literal analysis such as marketing comparisons between leading apparel exporting countries.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.265-279
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• 1993

The channel of distribution exists for the purpose of moving product from the manufactuerer to the final consumer. In order to satisfy consumer needs, channels provide for the those products to arrive at the right place, at the right time and in the quantity, quality and price desired. Currently, there has been an emerging interest in the improvement of distribution system in many areas of industries and Korean government because of a market liberalizatiion begun at 1989 and still has processed step by step. In the wave of market liberalization, an understanding of the channel of distribution and structure would be very crucial when developing the opportunities of competitive advantages in Korean apparel industry. The purposes of this study were to investigate the determinants of the distribution channel and to identify how to respond to the market liberalization for developing the possible future strategies in the apparel industry. Data for this study were obtained from interviews with managers in apparel company in addition to a questionnaire mailed to over 106 middle management position of apparel company. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The results of this study were summarized as follows. 1. In the distribution channel of the apparel industry, a vertical marketing system, comprising producer, apparel company, retailer, prevailed without intermediaries such as wholesalers or vendors. Especially, the apparel company controlled marketing channel members. This type of system may reflect added product cost and may be not advantageous to retailers and consumers because most apparel companies are responsible for its own transfortation, storage and stocks after season. 2. In the view of market liberalization, most apparrel companies showed double-edged viewpoints. In terms of positive aspect, it would give stimulus to broaden variety of fashion merchandise and to improve product quality of fashion merchanise which were the most disadvantageous factors in competing with oversea's brands. In terms of negative aspect, it would bring the bankruptcy of small or medium sized apparel firms and the foreign products' penetration in domestic market. From this study, severel recommedations were suggested forward to improve the present condition in apparel industry. They included eliminating the power of apparel company and reinforcing middlemen for more efficient distribution system and for satisfying consumer needs in rapidly changing environment. Also it included government supports, reinforcement of information system, improvement in channel structure, and career development program in conjunction with apparel companies and academic society for improving scientific management and future potential strategies in Korean apparal industry.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.21-30
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• 1989

The U.S. response to increased international competition was examined in the present study in order to have more comprehensive understanding of the U.S. textile and clothing market. The method employed to conduct the study was the analysis of the written materials, interview with professionals, and the survey of the actual situations of the U.S. textile and apparel industries. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Official U.S. textile and apparel trade policy has been quite has been quite protective since 1950's. The protective trend has been embodied in Japan Cotton Textile Export Control (reciprocal trade agreement signed by the U.S. and Japan in 1957), Short Term Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Cotton Textiles, Long Term Cotton Textile Arrangement (1962∼1973), and Multi-fiber Arrangement (1974∼). Other governmental programs designed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. textile and apparel industries include Long-term Textile and Apparel Products Export-expansion Program, and 807 Trade to take labor cost advantage. 2. Along with the quite protective governmental trade policy, the corporate responses have been made such as new sourcing mixes, investment in technology, specialization in the textile and apparel industries, and recent strategies pursued by retailer's. The apparel industry was subject to pressure from imports that increased at moderate levels, and the U.S. textile and apparel industries have made extensive efforts to adjust to the increasing competition from abroad. The textile and apparel industries have taken steps to increase labor productivity through automation, to speed management to create and introduce new products and new methods, and have lowered indirect overhead costs. Several industrywide promotion campaigns have attempted to establish a greater public awareness of international competition and to develop a preference for apparel produced in the United States. 3. Regarding these response of the U.S. and other situations of world textile and apparel trade market, much of the sense of crisis that pervades Korean textile and apparel industries has to do with the problem of adjusting government and corporate policy. Textile and apparel industry of Korea faces on going pressure to reduce costs, improve quality, increase service, develop new markets, diversify, and differentiate itself from its foreign competitors. The strategies that have been adopted in the past have generally worked in the past, but the time has come to adopt strategies that reflect present conditions. If this is not done, then we stand to lose large segments of these industries, which once lost will not easily be regenerated.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2009

Due to rapid economic growth and accelerated urbanization, numerous cities in China have been turning into huge consumption markets almost simultaneously, and thus, the Chinese apparel markets being globalized are most vigorous in the world, attracting attention from the world apparel industries. If the Korean apparel businesses should develop the products befitting the conditions of the Chinese apparel markets and reflecting her consumers' fashion trends and needs, their apparels would be satisfactory enough to Chinese consumers, being competitive in the Chinese markets. In this sense, today's Chinese apparel markets may well provide the Korean apparel businesses with both crisis and opportunity. As one of the methods to enhance Chinese consumers' satisfaction with the Korean apparels, the Korean apparel businesses should consider seriously about the apparel fitting or a factor determining apparel silhouettes and sense of wearing. Since Chinese consumers differ widely in terms of body types and measurements depending on regions due to the vast territory, differentiation of the apparel fitting is more important than any other single factor, and thus, correct information about apparel fitting may well be directly related with manufacturing of excellent apparels. The purpose of this study is to comparatively analyze the upper body measurements and types of the Chinese and Korean women in their 20's to provide the Korean apparel business engaged in Chinese markets with some basic data about apparel fitting conducive to their development of effective apparel commodities. For this purpose, Chinese women in their 20's living in China's two major cities leading China's women's apparel markets were sampled.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.73-89
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• 2017

This research aimed to identify the characteristics of outdoor apparel market for new seniors. To achieve this goal, influence of new seniors' lifestyle and apparel purchase criteria of design preferences of outdoor apparel products were investigated. An online-survey was conducted targeting fifties who have bought outdoor apparel within one year. The collected data were carried out for factor analysis, independent sample T-test, and regression analysis by using SPSS 22.0. Results showed that new seniors' lifestyles were composed of appearance-orientation, well-being diet, well-being exercise, self-development, and challenge-orientation. Purchase criteria of outdoor apparels were factored out as practical, aesthetic, and social. Appearance -orientation and self-development affect aesthetic and social factors. Well-being diet influences all factors of purchase criteria. Challenge -orientation has effect only on social factor. Women favored round-and V-neckline more than men did as well as preferred half and 3/4 long for sleeve. Customers who value practical purchase criteria preferred half-sleeve, zipper, and button-closure designs. In contrast, customers who have aesthetic purchase criteria like round/V-neckline and cap sleeve. Social factor affected high neckline and vivid-tone color preference significantly. As outdoor design for new senior it is critical to introduce differentiation of outdoor brand with various designs combining functionalities of outdoor activities and style looking young and dandy, which is highlighted as trendy and casual, over current outdoor apparels' unified design.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.474-485
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to examine the determinants and elements to enhance Korean international competitiveness, employing Porter's(1998) Diamond Model. Half of the 500 leading apparel exporters that were members of the Korea Apparel Industry Association in 2003 were selected as the target of this research. From May to June of 2003, survey questionnaires were sent to executives of these 250 companies in person or by telephone, e-mail, or fax. Seventy questionnaires were used for the final data anlysis. The items used were Reliability, Categorical Regression, and Frequency, using SPSS 11.5. The results were as follows: First, as a result of analyzing the influence of international competitiveness in Korean apparel industry, the firm's strategy, structure, and rivalry was the most influential factor. Others were related and supporting industries, government, chance, demand conditions, and factor conditions. Also, the elements that affect Korean international competitiveness were listed as the level of price competition in foreign markets, the level of labor cost, export marketing capacity, and exchange fluctuation. The most important element to improve the international competitiveness of the Korean apparel industry was a demand growth rate of the overseas markets(Demand Conditions), followed by the level of the labor costs(Factor Conditions), the capability of internationalization(Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry), the change of currency(Chance), the quality and management of products(Demand Conditions), the capability of planning products(Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry), free trade from 2005(Chance), and global sourcing strategy(Firm Strategy, Structure, and Rivalry). Korea's main rival country in apparel related and supporting industry factors is China. However, Korea has a higher level of technology development, quality, and price level than China.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.147-159
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• 2023

Fashion is the second most polluting industry. We must strive to transition to a form of industry that does not cause environmental pollution. These efforts drive may fashion brands to produce and sell products with redesigned methods that delight the inventory flow. Accordingly, it is necessary to develop creative apparel up-cycling design using the creative thinking method. This study aims to produce clothing redesign works by introducing design idea types for systematic redesign creation. In this research, we conducted a literature review on the concept of up-cycling design and employed heterotopa spacial concept reflected fashion design creation methodology types. The RE;CODE, a leading domestic up-cycling design brand, was used in case analysis. According to the command of shape transformation, it is spreading, stacking, dropping, inverting and crossing, from the creative thinking method reflecting heterotopia spacial concepts, showing designers a concrete way to transform form into new apparel. Seven works of apparel up-cycling design were developed by conducting process of RE;CODE. Also, to establish an apparel up-cycling design creation process for creating works. In this study, we proposed a systematic method for apparel up-cycling design, including a method for reorganizing two or more different materials to create something new and ultimately reversing the structure. The value and significance of this study is that it proposes a systematic method for apparel up-cycling design to make it new.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.935-941
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to survey fabric knowledge about apparel products, and to identify not only clothing purchase criteria but the impact of fabrics on the decision-making process in clothing purchase. The 234 questionnaires were distributed to university students(120 males, 114 females), and were analyzed by frequencies, t-test, $x^{2}$ and ANOVA. The results are as follows: 1) The students had apparel fabrics knowledge above the average, and there were partially significant differences in the knowledge by genders. 2) They put a higher priority, in purchasing apparel products, on factors such as design, size, color, fabric, and price of clothing than those including ease of care, sewing, and fashion trend. 3) The consideration of fabrics influenced a post-purchase process. 4) Male students showed less concern, except information search process, with the fabric than females in the decision-making process for clothing purchase.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.357-363
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to suggest a new method to develop the apparel design applied construction of traditional swimsuit wearing Jeju woman divers known as Haenyeo. Jeju Haenyeos are represented as an image of the diligent and strong woman. With such an image, they have become the symbol of Jeju women. Furthermore, Jeju Haeyeo culture will be rebranded. The Jeju woman divers wear special swimsuit (Mul-sojungii) when harvesting the various sea products. The Mul-sojungii was buttoned down the right side so that it could be easily removed. Therefore, it is to review the fashion design products for effective item applied the original or modified folding technique of Mul-sojungii. As a result, it was to develop the bolero, jump suit and dress design of Korean image using folding technique(Guljapgi) of Mul-sojungii that is one of the unique, indigenous construction of Jeju.