• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• 제16권1호
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• pp.55-70
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• 2016

The existing research on sustainability in the apparel industry provides no clear consensus on the definition of sustainability for the apparel brands and how sustainability of apparel brands as it is perceived by consumers can be measured. To fill this gap in research, the present study proposes and tests a confirmatory model of sustainability for apparel brands based on the three pillars of sustainability (i.e., economic, environmental, social sustainability) theorized in the Triple Bottom Line model. A survey of 754 U.S. consumers provided data for empirical testing. The results support the three-dimensional factor structure of sustainability for apparel brands and reveal that a second-order sustainability exerts a significant impact on both brand image and brand trust. The findings provide theoretical implications for researchers and practical managerial suggestions for marketers.

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제24권5호
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• pp.663-674
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the preference for apparel brands and country of origin, (2) to evaluate the brand equity for domestic and imported apparels as perceived by Korean and American consumers, and (3) to analyze the effects of country of origin and brand equity on consumers' apparel purchase behavior. The sample included 151 Korean and 114 American consumers. The data were collected from respondents by using the mall-intercept method. In addition, the path analysis based on multiple regression analysis was applied to analyze the data. The major findings in this study were as followings; (1) Both of all Korean and US consumers preferred domestic apparel brands to imported brands but the latter preferred apparels made in home country to the former comparatively, (2) Korean consumers evaluated more favorably the brand equity for imported apparels than that for domestic apparels, but American consumers were quite the reverse, (3) To Korean consumers, the direct variable to influence the purchase intention of apparels was the perceived quality and indirect variables were the brand equity and country of origin. On the other hand, to American consumers, the perceived quality and the brand equity for domestics apparel had directly influence on the purchase intention and the brand equity for imported apparels did indirectly. Finally, implications for managerial and marketing strategies were discussed in regard to building an international apparel brand equity and improving exports with high quality apparels.

• 복식문화연구
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• 제18권6호
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• pp.1127-1137
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• 2010

As directly imported apparel brands are actively entering the domestic market, studies of the marketing aspects of these imported apparel products and their overall consumption trend have been done. However, studies of whether are not the directly imported apparel products provide Korean consumers with an appropriate fit are not as common. Therefore, this study investigates the satisfaction with and problems associated with the fit along with the recognition of and preference for directly imported US apparel brands. 100 female college students who purchased directly imported US apparel brands participated in a survey. The results of this survey showed that their recognition of, preference for, possession rate of and satisfaction with the directly imported US apparel brands tend to be high. The major purchasing motivations were the excellent 'design' and 'color' of the products. The subjects reported that they were satisfied with the quality of 'materials' and 'sewing condition'. However, they were not satisfied with the 'comfort' or the 'size'. Their level of satisfaction with the fit of these products differed depending on the specific item. Their level of satisfaction with the fit of T-shirts and knits was high, whereas the level for pants was relatively low. They complained mostly about the sleeve length and garment length of upper-body garments and coats. They were not satisfied with how the pants fit. The areas of dissatisfaction regarding the pants were the waist girth, the crotch length and the pants length.

• Fashion, Industry and Education
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.35-46
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine female consumers' attitudes and purchase intentions toward intimate apparel brands. To understand female consumers' shopping behaviors for intimate apparel products, this study examined interrelationships among brand familiarity, perceived risk, attitudes, and purchase intentions toward intimate apparel brands. A conceptual model was developed by adopting perceived risk theory (Cox, 1967) and theory of reasoned action (Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980). A pre-survey using a paper and pencil was conducted to identify the most familiar intimate apparel brand to young female consumers. The majority of pre-survey respondents (66 female college students) indicated Victoria's Secret as the most prominent intimate apparel brand. Therefore, Victoria's Secret was used to examine possible effects of brand familiarity on perceived risk and attitudinal and behavioral responses toward the brand. Using a web-based survey, 384 complete responses were collected from young female college students between the ages of 18-29 at a Mid-southern U.S. university. A structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. Results showed positive, statistically significant associations among the four variables (e.g., brand familiarity, perceived risk, attitudes, and purchase intentions). The findings suggested that young female consumers who are familiar with a particular intimate apparel brand are likely to perceive a low level of risk, leading to positive, strong attitudes with purchase intentions toward that particular intimate apparel brand. This suggests establishing brand familiarity through integrated marketing communication is crucial for risk reduction strategy in intimate apparel shopping.

• 한국생활과학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생활과학회 2008년도 하계학술대회
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• pp.145-146
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• 2008

• 한국의류학회지
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• 제21권8호
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• pp.1396-1405
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• 1997

This study investigated country-of-origin effects by comparatively analyzing consumer attitude toward country-of-origin of imported apparel according to apparel product attributes. Fishbein attitude model was used. The effects of consumer characteristics such as attitude of consumers toward general imported apparel and demorgraphic variables on consumer attitude toward country-of-origin were also identified. Italy, U.S.A, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea were used as country of origin. Data were obtained from male and female subjects(total 570) aged mostly 20's. Statistical analysis showed: 1) Apparel product attributes were classified into 3 factors, expressive, instrumental and brand, which are the order of importance for purchasing. 2) Consumer indicated more favorable attitude toward 'made in 'Italy' nd made in 'Korea' in each attribute factor. 'Made in Korea' roducts were evaluated highest in expressive attribute factor but less favored than 'made in Italy' n brand attribute factor. 'Made in U.S.A and made in Japan' were evaluated favorable in instrumental factor, whereas 'made in Hong Kong' had the least favorable attitude in every attribute factor. 3) The uniqueness and good quality of imported apparel appeared to be the most strong variable in predicting consumer attitude toward each country-of-origin. 4) The attitude toward country of origin was different according to sex and age.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.728-733
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• 2011

U.S. apparel brands are being imported to Korea more than any other country's apparel brands. Against this backdrop, this study intends to verify the fitness of U.S. apparels for Korean people in terms of size. To this end, the authors selected 25 American and 25 Korean women in their twenties and studied the differences of these two groups with regard to the size of their lower body parts. In addition, the authors analyzed how the size of each part of the lower body changes according to different postures. All the study subjects were required to be able to wear medium-sized pants of the U.S. apparel. The results of the present study are shown below. The American women were bigger than the Korean counterparts in leg length, hip circumference, thigh circumference, and all height-related sizes. However, the Koreans were bigger than their peers in lengths from waist to crotch; crotch length, body rise and the length from front waist point to hip line. Standing posture was used as a yardstick, when the changes in size according to the different postures were examined. The results indicate that hip and knee circumferences increased in the sitting posture. In particular, hip circumference significantly increased in the American women group. Regarding length-related sizes, increases and decreases in sizes for different lower body parts differed according to the posture. For a walking posture with ordinary strides, the front crotch length decreased while the back crotch length increased. This tendency was more notably observed for Korean women. The American woman clearly showed a decrease in outside leg length for all postures. The Korean women obviously presented an increase in the front center leg length for the sitting posture and for the posture where the knees were bent at $120^{\circ}$. The length from the front waist point to the hip line significantly declined in the Korean woman for the sitting posture and for the walking posture with ordinary strides.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.10-17
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• 2004

This study aims to take s look at the role of brands in the life of consumers and particularly, in the life of adolescent consumers. What I have to command is representative of events in the lives of teenagers in the U.S. but it has application for college-aged individuals as well as young adults. I am particularly interested in understanding relationships between the concept of brand and the development and maintenance of self.

• 한국의류산업학회지
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• 제18권4호
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• pp.477-488
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• 2016

This study classified and analyzed the types of images posted on official accounts operated by domestic and foreign SPA brands on Instagram and Pinterest, which are image-based fashion curations, and performed a survey on preferred image types in the fashion curations of SPA brands. It aims to induce active apparel purchasing behavior of consumers through the suggestion of image types about fashion curations for effective communication between fashion brands and consumers. The survey to targets the 20s and 30s was carried out from October 23, 2015 until November 22 and conducted factor analysis, paired t-test. The above images were classified into four types based on previous studies: product images, brand images, lifestyle images, multiple images. The results of the survey were also divided into four factors in line with the classification of image types. Generally, foreign SPA brands(H&M, Uniqlo, Zara) used image-based fashion curation services more frequently than domestic SPA brands(8Seconds, Mixxo, Spao, Tngt). The analysis of image types in the fashion curations of SPA brands showed that product images accounted for the highest proportion of images used in the official accounts of SPA brands. However, the comparison of averages on the preferred image types of survey respondents showed that the users who had once visited the official accounts of SPA brands on Instagram and Pinterest preferred in the order of lifestyle information > product information > brand information > multiple information provided by SPA brands, which was statistically significant.

• 복식문화연구
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.139-150
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• 2013

Fast fashion companies have generated enormous amounts of clothing and large quantities of unsold or short-lived clothing end up in the landfill. As if to counter fast fashion, sustainable fashion has arisen for environmentally friendly garments at different levels from the fiber stage to production stage. However it is still fraught with uncertainty of systems in the industry. Therefore, this study proposed a system to create re-valued clothing from recycled garments for retailers. The target companies are large-sized retailers like Levi's, Polo, Gap, or J-Crew which are consistently producing basic items such as Levi's 501 or Classic Polo shirts with middle-prices. At the material stage, this study recommended additional requirements of designing a garment with a long life cycle based on criteria of an ideal garment developed by Patagonia clothing company. Then, this study explored innovative ways that retailers might connect with consumers to allow direct interaction between them in terms of the process of collecting used clothes. Using recycled clothing as a source material, this study strove to offer a process of redesign where the concept of 'waste to fashion' is developed as reconstructions where old forms are transformed into new ones.