• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.125-137
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the conceptual constructs of ethical consumption beliefs and their impacts on the consumer attitudes toward eco-friendly faux leather apparel goods. The mediating roles of perceived consumer effectiveness and apparel environmental knowledge were examined in this research. A survey was conducted on female consumers between the ages of 20 and 50; subsequently, 300 responses were analyzed. The results of this study were follows: 1) The results of factor analysis and the reliability test on ethical consumption beliefs clearly showed factorial structures that include Social Responsibility, Eco-friendly Consumption, Animal Welfare, and Individual Enhancement. 2) The results of the mean scores of ethical consumption beliefs showed that respondents tended to consider Social Responsibility more important than the other three factors. Ethical consumption beliefs showed a significantly positive influence on consumer attitudes toward eco-friendly faux leather apparel products; in addition, Social Responsibility had the highest effect on product attitudes among the four factors of ethical consumption beliefs. 3) The perceived consumer effectiveness and environmental knowledge of apparel had important medicating roles in the relation-ship between ethical consumption beliefs and attitudes towards eco-friendly faux leather apparel products. This study highlighted a potential marketability of eco-friendly faux leather apparel products and that ethical consumption beliefs, perceived consumer effectiveness, and apparel environmental knowledge should be promoted among consumers to increase favorable attitudes towards these products.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.39-50
• /
• 2010

This paper compares a cross-cultural and gender differences and similarities about consumer ethical perceptions and behaviors, and ethical ideologies between Korean and the US college students. It also examines the relationships between consumers' ethical perceptions and behaviors, and the relationships between consumer ethics and ethical ideologies. This research provides some evidence that supports the premise that consumer ethics is influenced to an extent by consumers' nationality and gender. The differences are not universal, however, and could perhaps be described as situational. The American college consumers were found to be more idealistic and relativistic than the Korean college consumers. But the differences were minor The American male college consumers were found to be more idealistic than the American female college consumers. The ethical consumer groups were found to be more idealistic and less relativistic than were the unethical consumer groups. Perceptions were positively related to behaviors in the consumer ethics. But the magnitude of impacts is different between the nations and in the dimensions of consumer ethics.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.40-48
• /
• 2009

Counterfeiting is a fast growing market worldwide. The purposes of this study were to examine adolescents' attitudes toward counterfeits, their ethical beliefs, and reference group influence on purchasing counterfeits. Two hundred thirteen high school students in Seoul and subside, South Korea, voluntarily participated in the study. As the results, approximately 30% of the adolescents had purchased counterfeits. Also, the adolescent buyers of counterfeits tended to purchase counterfeit goods as more alternative of genuine products than non-buyers, and did have more positive feeling toward counterfeits than non-buyers of counterfeits. In addition, adolescent buyers of counterfeits had lower consumer ethics than non-buyers. Finally, adolescents who have purchased counterfeits were more influenced by their peer group than those who have not. The findings would benefit marketers and educators in understanding of adolescents' purchasing counterfeit products, and contribute to develop strategies regarding counterfeits. Based on these results, some strategies for marketers and educators would be suggested.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.373-381
• /
• 2021

The number of vegans has increased rapidly due to religious and ethical beliefs, environmental concerns, health, etc. Also, as interest in healthy and safe food increases, the demand for organic products or nutrition-enhanced products is increasing. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the selection attributes and purchasing behavior for protein-fortified and vegan snacks. It is anticipated that the results would find use as basic data for developing protein-fortified snacks for vegans that can meet consumer needs and derive marketing strategies. A survey was conducted on 140 consumers. According to the analysis of their purchase behavior, the number of people who had purchased high-protein snacks and vegan snacks was higher than those who did not have prior experience. The reasons for the purchase of protein fortified snacks included 'meal replacement' at 'offline-convenient store/supermarket'. Vegan snacks were purchased for 'ethical beliefs, health, environment' at 'offline-vegan restaurant, bakery'. Both snacks showed above-normal preferences. However, it is necessary to improve taste and flavor when developing these products as these were the factors that negatively impacted the preferences. The attributes were factorized into the 'showing off factor', 'sensory factor', 'credence factor', and 'functional factor' and the 'sensory factor' was considered the most important.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.609-623
• /
• 2017

Fur apparel is a representative luxury item that displays wealth and social status; however, it is also recognized as an unethical product criticized for its animal maltreatment in the production process. Understanding consumer responses to an ambivalent object, such as fur apparel, is an important research topic both academically and practically. This study investigates the hierarchical effects of perceived benefits and risks of fur apparel on consumers' emotions and purchase intention by applying the ABC model of attitudes to identify the mediating effects of consumer emotions. An online survey was conducted on 390 female consumers that verified hypotheses through structural equation modeling and bootstrapping analysis using phantom variables. The initial results of the survey showed that the relationship between perceived conspicuous benefits and purchase intention towards fur apparel was partially mediated by positive emotion. Second, the relationship between perceived epistemic benefits and purchase intention was completely mediated by positive emotion. Third, the relationship between perceived ethical risk and purchase intention was completely mediated by positive and negative emotions. Fourth, perceived social risk did not affect the purchase intention of fur apparel significantly. The results support that cognitive beliefs about the subject have a significant positive effect on behavioral intentions through emotions as suggested in the ABC model of the attitude. This study provides an in-depth understanding of consumer responses to ambivalent objects by revealing the individual mediating effects of consumers' positive and negative emotions.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.28 no.11
• /
• pp.1438-1447
• /
• 2004

The purpose of this study were to examine if the buyers of counterfeits tend to care less about ethical beliefs than non-buyers among Korean, Japanese, and Hong Kong consumers, and if they have more supportive attitudes toward counterfeit products. 573 female college students living in Seoul, Tokyo, and Hong Kong were surveyed. For data analysis, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and t-test were used. As the results, 65.8% of respondents had experiences of purchasing fashion counterfeits. Handbags among fashion counterfeits were the most frequently purchased by the respondents. The buyers of counterfeits tended to purchase counterfeit goods as more alternative of genuine products than non-buyers, and did not feel guiltier toward purchasing of counterfeits than non-buyers. Also, the buyers of counterfeits tended to have more positive attitudes toward the legality of manufacturing, selling, and buying of counterfeits than non-buyers. In addition, they tended to consider much more purchasing of counterfeits as a way to fight against big-firms than non-buyers. Finally, the buyers of counterfeits tended to have lower consumer ethics than non-buyers. Based on these results, global marketing strategies for fashion goods were suggested.