• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.725-735
• /
• 2012

This study investigated the demand for functional clothing that compensates for the physical deformation of women due to aging. For this, the degree of perception of physical deformation at the new silver generation was examined. The demand for functional clothing that corrects body shape and posture according to differences in age and degree of perception was analyzed. Study participants(n=138) were women who ranged from 55 to 65 in age. Perception of physical deformation was investigated in the categories of deformation of body posture, cognition of joint pain, and deformation of body shape. Analysis results showed that cognition of joint pain was the largest of the three elements of body deformation, and each element had a high correlation between each other. Perception for degree of body deformation for women in their 50's and 60's was similar. These results show that changes in posture or body shape occur severely from the late 50's, and this appears as joint pain. The group with a high perception of posture deformation showed an especially high demand for functional clothing that corrects body shape and posture. The group with a high perception of body shape deformation had high demand for functional clothing that corrects body shape by lifting the hips and the breasts, and making the abdomen and waist slimmer. The results of this study show that women of the new silver generation are attuned to deformations in body shape and posture as well as joint pain beginning in their mid-fifties. There is a need to develop functional clothing to correct posture and body shape for the new silver generation women.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.10 no.5
• /
• pp.618-624
• /
• 2008

The purposes of this study were to explore the perceived risk of smart clothing, to classify consumers by risk perception of smart clothing, and to investigate the differences among the segmented groups in regard to the evaluation of newness and innovativeness of smart clothing. In addition, the relationship among perceived risk, evaluation of newness and innovativeness of smart clothing were examined. A questionnaire was administered to 338 male and female subjects aged from 17 to 50. Analysis was performed by factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation analysis. The results showed that the perceived risk of smart clothing was composed of 4 factors: economic risk, social risk, functional risk and physical risk. Consumers were classified into four groups: high risk perception group, low economic risk perception group, low functional risk perception group, and low social risk perception group. ANOVA showed that there were significant differences among four groups regard to the evaluation of newness and innovativeness of smart clothing. High risk perception group most highly evaluated the newness and innovativeness of smart clothing. There were positive correlation among the perceived risks, the evaluation of the newness and innovativeness of smart clothing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.33 no.9
• /
• pp.1495-1505
• /
• 2009

This study analyzes how well-being lifestyle and functional textile knowledge effect the perception of high functional sports/leisure wear importance. A survey was conducted among male and female sports/leisure wear consumers aged 15 and over in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk area from May $12^{th}$ to June $2^{nd}$ 2009. A total of 288 responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and regression. As a result, 9 factors were determined as sub-elements of a well-being lifestyle. Knowledge levels for functional textiles were high in elastic, UV blocking, air permeable, and antibacterial properties. The perception of high functional sports/leisure wear importance was positively influenced by functional textile knowledge and two well-being lifestyle constructing factors ('self-confidence/affirmative thinking' and 'health/environment oriented eating habits').

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.645-654
• /
• 2013

This study investigated the difference of reference price, preference and quality perception of high functional underwear according to innovation cues. High functional underwear was selected as a research stimulus due to its technological innovative characteristics. A total of 93 male university students participated as subjects and data were collected by simple random experimental design operationalized with three types of innovation stimulus cues. Two types of internal reference price perception-expected price and fair price, preference, and 9 items of product quality perception-8 functional properties and overall quality of stimulus were measured with a questionnaire. The result supported the difference of reference price and quality perception by product innovation cue. The higher cue level group perceived two types of reference price and the overall quality higher than the lower cue level group. The difference of the expected price and fair price, the influence of functional properties on overall quality, and relations of the variables were discussed in depth.

• Science of Emotion and Sensibility
• /
• v.18 no.4
• /
• pp.75-86
• /
• 2015

As a part of integrated study for technical communication between consumer and manufacturer of functional clothing, functional clothing consumers were categorized based on their perception of the functional outdoor jacket and the differences in the source of information and use of hang-tag were examined according to the groups. Questionnaire survey was conducted on 472 males and females in their 20s to 60s, who have experience of purchasing functional outdoor jackets. Perception of functional outdoor jackets was classified into four factors ('functionality', 'price', 'experience/knowledge' and 'brand/design') and the respondents were categorized into three groups according to the factors: 'unconversant/brand & design pursuing group', 'conversant/function pursuing group' and 'high-priced products preferring group'. 'Unconversant/brand & design pursuing group' was composed of high rate of office workers and students in their 20s and 30s who use internet most frequently as source of information while 'conversant/function pursuing group' was composed of high rate of professionals in their 40s and 50s who make the most frequent use of information on hang-tag. 'High-priced products preferring group', which has high rate of the elderly in their 60s and housewives, obtain their information mainly from salespersons. 'Unconversant/brand & design pursuing group' was satisfied with functional information more than other two groups and 'conversant/function pursuing group' concerned for the hang-tag and required more explanation of terminology used in hang-tag. The results effectively explained the features of consumer groups and their different responses toward the information of functional outdoor jacket.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.157-171
• /
• 2018

As the next generation of smartphone and tablet computers, wearable devices are currently being developed and available in market in various forms. Smart clothing is a wearable device that holds the greatest potential for future development but low in market penetration. This study was designed to identify factors that influence adoption and diffusion of smart clothing. In-depth interviews with potential consumers who were knowledgeable about and interested in smart clothing were conducted. A semantic network analysis method was used. The results showed that consumers perceived smart clothing as a garment rather than as a type of wearable device and had a positive perception of smart apparel as more convenient and advanced than functional apparel. At the same time, however, consumers had a negative perception of smart clothing as unnecessary, ugly, and injurious to health. Consumers also worried that wearing smart apparel over long periods of time would negatively impact their health. Factors affecting resistance to smart apparel included low utility, perceived risk, and lack of aesthetic completeness. Usefulness and convenience were factors that affected the acceptance of smart clothing. The innovativeness of the product was more influential than consumer innovativeness in the process of adoption and diffusion of smart clothing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.34 no.8
• /
• pp.1392-1402
• /
• 2010

This research studied the development of high functional wear that reflects the various needs of an aged population. A survey of the life style, body functions and body changes, cognition, and preference of high functional wear with a subject group of 342 women aged 50's-60's was conducted. The results show that these women showed a high interest in clothing, challenged to new tasks, and enjoyed social meetings. Women aged 50's and 60's showed a relatively vibrant and active tendency, with no difference between them. They had the most interest in health and diet. The development of various clothing items and designs for women in their fifties and sixties are required because exercise was the most favored leisure activity. Meanwhile, they showed indisposition according to body type changes and the decrease in body functions. There was also some discomfort due to changes in visual power and trouble in controlling the body temperature. Therefore, the need to develop high quality smart wear that can help improve these problems was raised. Women aged 50's to 60's did not fully understand smart clothing; however, they showed some interest in high quality smart wear designed to improve health conditions after they heard detailed explanations about the clothing. They perceived the matter of laundry or managing he clothing more important than the price or rejection to mechanical device in regards to smart wear.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
• /
• v.14 no.3
• /
• pp.111-122
• /
• 2012

This study analyzed the differences in value perception and purchasing intention for natural cosmetics by LOHAS class and investigated what influences people's value perception for natural cosmetics had on their purchasing intention. Total 450 questionnaires were distributed to adults of over 20s to 50s for the period from Dec. 1, 2011 to Dec. 14 and 410 questionnaires were used as analysis data. As for collected data, the statistical package SPSS 18.0 Version was used for factor analysis, frequency analysis, reliability test, one-way ANOVA, Chi-Square test, Scheffe-test, correlations analysis and multiple regression analysis. LOHAS class was divided into three groups (higher, middle and lower) based on LOHAS index. Through factor analysis, the value perception for natural cosmetics were divided into three factors (social value, emotional and functional value perception). The results of this study were obtained as below. First, in case of the value perception for natural cosmetics by LOHAS class, it was demonstrated that the higher LOHAS classes they were, the higher value perception for natural cosmetics (social, emotional and functional value perception) they had. Second, in case of the effects of the value perception for natural cosmetics by LOHAS class on their purchasing intention (intention to use and recommendation of usage), it was found that their value perception influenced their purchasing intention. Social value perception and functional value perception, especially social value perception largely affected the purchasing intention of all LOHAS classes, while emotional value perception didn't affected the purchasing intention.

• Human Ecology Research
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.243-253
• /
• 2014

This qualitative case study examined the experience of middle-aged homemakers with buying and wearing clothes. Clothing benefits and clothing purchase types were observed in the homemakers' daily clothing-related behavior. This study aims to understand clothing consumption values in light of clothing benefits and to determine purchasing methods, purchasing mental states, and personal characteristics according to the clothing purchase types of middle-aged homemakers. The participants of this study were four full-time homemakers and four homemakers with a job outside the home, all in middle age. This study was conducted through in-depth interviews based on an unstructured questionnaire, and the data were collected from January 2010 to October 2010. The results were as follows: first, the clothing benefits were identified as a social stereotype, aesthetic taste, economy, wearing situation, and age perception. The most important clothing consumption values to the middle-aged homemakers based on the observed clothing benefits were, in order: social value, emotional value, epistemic value, functional value, and conditional value. Second, the type of clothing purchase was observed to be planned buying, followed by impulse buying, and compensatory buying. Even when a homemaker planned to shop regularly, when they were exposed to an attractive retailer promotion, they seized on the opportunity on impulse or made a compensatory purchase to divert oneself. Even though homemakers prefer primarily impulse buying, when they went shopping for clothing with their mother-in-law or husband, they made planned purchase also.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.505-516
• /
• 2015

This study investigated difference of product interest and its relation to consumers' innate innovativeness according to gender as well as compared the perceptive construct of products between male and female consumers. A survey involving male and female college students was conducted in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk areas in December 2013. Subsequently, 400 responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, independent sample t-test, reliability analysis, ANCOVA, and multidimensional scaling. Among 45 products, male respondents showed a significantly high degree of interest over 12 categories such as watches, desktop computers, cars, sports products, and video games compared to females. The female sample showed a significantly high degree of interest for 29 product categories such as clothing, movies, skin care shops, cosmetics, eating-out, teeth whitening, coffee, cameras, and performances compared to males. Innovative male consumers were interested in traveling, movies, clothing, eating-out, running shoes, and wallets; however, female consumers' innovativeness was significantly related to previously determined items of interest. Two dimensions explaining the male consumers' products perception construct were 'hard versus soft' and 'usual versus special'. Instead, female consumers' were 'special versus usual' and 'expressive versus functional'.