• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.301-316
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• 2016

Due to the dramatic increase in consumers' price sensitivity and growing importance for global retailers to create relevant price strategies, this study investigates the global pricing strategy of the main SPA brands such as ZARA, H&M and UNIQLO. Based on price information shown on official website, the study developed SPA brand index by using exchange rates in terms of US dollars and ratio of differences between the local price and the US price. These figures were compared with GDP per person data in order to analyze each brand's price level against the income level. The study also compared SPA brand index with Big Mac index to identify the difference in price levels between the fast fashion market and the fast food market. ZARA and H&M were mostly targeting Middle East and Asia as a high-price market when considering index only. After taking the income level into account, however, Asia came out be the highest price market and Middle East was similar to the US market. On the other hand, UNIQLO targeted Asia as the lowest price market and the US and EU as the highest in terms of index only. But, Asia came out to be the highest price zone after considering the income level while the price of the US and EU was reasonable. Comparison with Big Mac Index indicated that most of Asia had a higher price level of the fashion market than the food market, whereas most European countries had a similar or high-price level of food market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to suggest the appropriate marketing strategies for Korean fashion companies wishing to enter the US market. In-depth-interview with documentary research were performed to investigate the seven Korean fashion companies launching in the US market as wholesalers or retailers. The interviews were executed from May to July 2007. The results of the study were summarized in accordance with Marketing Mix(4P's). In most cases, the brand targets are female customers of 20's to early 30's. The products carried by the companies are trendy with a tint of vintage and oriental feelings. The price ranges from middle to high level. Most brands are engaged in wholesaling through trade shows to sell the merchandise for department stores or specialty stores, but recently are trying to convert to retailing. Trade shows and show rooms are used as one of the promotion tools, but celebrity marketing has also been active for the promotions. Most companies suggested their superior qualities of the products as their strength, and the lack of experience and information as their weakness. Most companies forecast that the influence of FTA between Korea and the US may be limited because of Korea companies' overseas outsourcing system.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-40
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to examine the fashion lifestyle variable of global consumers and to compare among US, Chinese and EU consumers. The data were collected in US(n=749), China(n=702) and EU(n=1083) from 2008 to 2010. For analysis, factor analysis, reliability analysis, K-means cluster analysis and chi-square analysis of SPSS 18.0 are used. The research results are as follow: First, it is shown that significant lifestyle factors of global fashion consumers are "adventure seeking", "fashion-oriented", "conspicuous consumption", "leadership", "brand-oriented", and "DIY". As a result of the cluster analysis of lifestyle types, four cross-national market segments are identified. These segments can be labeled as follows: "conservative fashion-oriented group", "passive consumer group", "neutral consumer group", "active fashion-oriented group". Second, findings also reveal that fashion lifestyle segments had meaningful differences between nationality and by year. Third, the US consumers tended to have conservative fashion-oriented lifestyle in 2008, however global consumers were changed to have active fashion lifestyle in 2010. This research will be useful to global brands in planning marketing strategies by offering specific information for global consumer fashion lifestyle.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.588-595
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate the awareness levels of Korean textile companies and develop appropriate response plans for the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. Through such, the study aims to explore practical and realistic directions that the Korean textile industry must take in the future. As for the research method, a survey on the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement was conducted to 50 Korean textile companies which mainly deal in textile exports. Results showed that Korean textile companies possess above average awareness for the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and carry the perception that the FTA has thus far had a positive effect of market revitalization and contributions to sales. Nonetheless, perceptions on the needs for the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement and level of awareness were below average while government assistance seen to be unsatisfactory. Such results suggest that measures for successful access to the U.S. market require developing products customized for the U.S. market and creating new market opportunities by participating in U.S. exhibits and shows. In addition, textile companies must develop their abilities for self-sustainability through continuous FTA related programs provided by government in addition to investing efforts to understand global markets within companies through response measures on the FTA as a whole.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.45-53
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• 2003

In the face of trade opportunity of Chinese reformation and opening and the future largest single market, global or multinational companies and Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Hong Kong's and Taiwan's companies will go all out to catch hold of one quotient. One trading war is about to start for funds, elitists, technique, and management in China now. It might be difficult to get profits in Chinese markets. However, risks can bring challenges, and competition can make progress. It's time to prepare for the challenges in the golden opportunity laid in front of us all.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.559-573
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• 2008

Internet apparel businesses are required to provide various kinds of consumer information which includes both product information and customer service information. "New Age Elderly" who become an aged man in 21th century are familiar with internet and other high technological tools from their life time experience with technological development and ready to enjoy the convenience the technology offers. As a preliminary step to develop internet consumer information model for elderly consumers, this study examines the US and Korea apparel e-tailing sites targeting elderly consumers. Ten Korean sites and nine US sites were selected and compared for their provision of consumer information in terms of contents, ease to access, and the completeness of the information. Results of data analysis indicate that elderly market in Korea is not yet clearly defined compared to the US. In Korea, elderly consumer market is considered as a part of middle-aged market, and there was no unique target marketing efforts observed. Korean sites are better than the US's sites in terms of shopping information, while the US sites offer detailed information about the company, and customer service information. In both countries, fashion related information is lacking and failing to satisfy fashion conscious elderly consumers. Managerial implications were discussed.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.34-45
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• 2008

This research was designed to find decision factors through color assortment planning process by Korean women's clothing merchandisers and to look for if there exists difference with American women's clothing merchandisers. A merchandise assortment is a collection of various quantities of styles, colors, sizes, and prices of related merchandise, usually grouped under one classification within a department. The subjects were 20 women's clothing merchandisers who work for clothing retail stores from 5 to 22 years in US and Korea. The authoring process was done for qualitative data analysis. The decision factors of color assortment planning were identified with four stages; information search, qualitative evaluation, quantitative evaluation, and selection. There were differences of color assortment decision factors due to different business types, business sizes, fashion-ability, sourcing ways, and merchandise turnover. Noticeable color assortment decision factor differences caused by country difference were not found except considering the target market ethnicity and skin color in US market. Korea merchandisers seem to be more sensitive to present sales data usages and spot order availability in color assortments because of more local production use than American merchandisers.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.830-843
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• 2016

The world wide increase of obesity and demands for various plus-size fashion are expanding the global plus-size fashion market. This study is to understand the market status of the US (the biggest plus-size fashion market) as well as analyze women's fashion shown in power blogs on the plus-size fashion trend. For research methods, photos from the top 10 globally ranked plus-size power blogs on Alexa.com were collected and divided into 5 plus-size body types based on: design factors, style, color, item, and texture. Pants with tops or completed outfits including pants, tops, and outer were the most common for casual styles; in addition, a tendency to pursue comfortable and naturally fitted clothes was also indicated. As for colors, the most common were blue colors and white or pastel toned colors; in addition, soft, hard, and transparent were all evenly used for materials. One-piece items were the most popular formal style that were mostly a one-tone color made with hard materials indicated by the pursuit of the fanciness and formality of a dress for a formal occasion. Black was the most common color, and the color variation was less diverse compared to that of casual styles. The most common for semi-formal styles were outfits with movability and more fanciness such as wearing a casual outer on top of a formal one-piece. When examining the fashion in plus-size blogs, there are differences in the frequency of design factors due to the diversity of body-types; in addition, different items were shown to be preferred in accordance with styles. The results of this study will help fashion companies who want to enter the global plus-size women's fashion market (including the US market); in addition, research on plus-size fashion that is changing the fashion and aesthetic paradigm is expected to contribute to academia.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.15 no.3 s.68
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• pp.525-540
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• 2007

This study intended to construct the brand switching matrix in the Korean casual wear market and to analyze it in various aspects. 1,014 sample data were collected in Seoul area, a center of fashion retailing. Since the respondents cited over 200 brand names as their last 2 purchased casual wear brands, 15 most frequently-purchased brands were selected for constructing the brand switching matrix. As a result of the examination, it was founded that the brand loyalty was dominant rather than brand switching in the casual wear market. Polo was identified as the leading brand in the market. Its brand equity, which was comprised of brand recognition, brand preference (loyalty), perceived quality, and brand association, was evaluated very high. Especially, the strength of Polo was the consumer's strong preference and the brand image of simplicity, naturalness, and neatness. After combining 15 brands into 6 groups based on the style and price, additional interpretation was performed on this 'trend switching matrix.' A transition of fashion trend in casual wear was observed. Applying the brand switching matrix on fashion products gave us much insight to the market.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.978-987
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• 2015

This study investigates the awareness levels of Korean textile companies and develops appropriate response plans for the Korea-US Free Trade Agreement. The study also explores practical and realistic directions that the Korean textile industry must initiate. A qualitative study was conducted on 10 individuals for a more in-depth and demonstrative understanding that provide a better awareness on the responses of the textile industry towards the Korea-US FTA. The results of this study are as follows. First, the effect of the Korea-US FTA on the textile industry was insignificant. Second, industry members determined that fabric sectors and specialized fabrics (such as industrial materials and finished clothing products) could realize benefits through the Korea-US FTA. Third, industry members emphasize that the current focus is on FTAs by countries that have solidified their positions as manufacturing and sewing bases for the US and Europe (such as Southeast Asia) and not the Korea-US FTA. Based on results acquired through this study, the response measures to enter the U.S. market are as follows. First, the industry must develop high-performance and high value-adding direct export products suited to the needs of the US market in order to realize the benefits of the Korea-US FTA. Second, the industry and government must cooperate to actively host and participate in overseas trade shows that can actively open sales channels within the US. Third, the self-sustainability of textile companies must be cultivated through continuous and focused government training.