• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.21-34
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to examine the main characteristics of strategies and fashion styles in fast fashion. Ultimately, this study is aimed to give useful information to develop fast fashion companies in Korean apparel industry. There are several strategies commonly applied in most fast fashion companies. First, they produce a wide range of numerous items. Second, the price is very reasonable. The primary objective of fast fashion is to quickly produce products in a cost efficient manner. Third, fast fashion companies take charge in the whole process from designing and manufacturing to distribution and sales. Forth, while almost all apparel companies invest a large amount in advertisement to promote sales, most fast fashion companies invest in VMD instead. Also, the fashion style of fast fashion were examined. First, casual style dominated a big part in composition of the entire style. Second, they use various kinds of different fabrics. For example, natural fabrics including organic and recycled fabrics, denims, newly invented high-tech fabrics, and decorative fabrics are widely used. Third, fast fashion brands produce fashion product based on the most recent fashion trends. Forth, they pursue high quality design. Retailers' understanding of the target market's wants realizes the consumer to thrive on constant change and the frequent availability of new products. Accordingly, fast fashion is presently taking an important role in fashion although it has a short history compared to the general apparel industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.212-223
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is 1) to identify Chinese environment for investment and apparel market, 2) to analyze the current situations of Korean fashion brands＇entry to Chinese market, 3) to analyze the marketing strategies to China according to product category, and 4) to identify merits and problems of Chinese market. For data collection, secondary resources were collected, and the telephone interview with merchandisers were implemented with brand managers. Twenty-one fashion brands were included for the study. Results of the study were as followed： 1) China was a big potential apparel market due to its rapid economic growth. Apparel purchase behavior and clothing preference of Chinese consumers were various by regional groups. 2) The motives of entry to China were to competition in domestic markets, saving raw material cost. The entry modes to China were direct export, license and regional manufacturing system. 3) Marketing strategies were to pursue high quality branding, high pricing and placing strategies with high-class department stores. Also star marketing were used with ＂Han Rue＂. Also various promotion strategies were implemented such as fashion show and unique VMD. 4) The merits of Chinese market were high potential market for export, close proximity, cultural similarity and Han-Ryu syndrome. Problems of Chinese market for export were lack of experts on Chinese market, fierce competition in China, and unstable economic policies.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.53-64
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• 2000

The purpose of this study is to help efficient use of marking system and more competitive products manufacture through the actual investigation into manufacturing process of apparel products. For lack of the previous study on marking, fundamental survey was performed on systematic research for pattern marking in ready-made production line Data were collected from 36 companies using Apparel CAD/CAM through questionnaire and interview. The data were analyzed by using Frequency and Crosstabs utilizing SPSS. The results were as follows : 1. Marking situation in clothing companies were examined ; 24 companies(66.7%) use computer marking, and 12 companies(33.3%) have both computer marking and hand marking. Besides only 9 companies out of 36(25.0%) have CAM in cutting process. 2. The efficiency in marking methods was also studied and the expense-saved ways were presented. we have found there is no difference in a way of the textural efficiency but the working methods of hand marking and computer marking. 3. Merits and demerits in marking methods were investigated. In case of marking two men's wear (Jacket and Pants), it takes 38 minutes by hand whereas it takes 15 minutes by computer ; for two women's wear (Jacket and Skirt) 49 minutes by hand, and 16 minutes by computer. 4. Most of the markers have less than 5 years experiences and among them most women are less experienced. They are in the mid-twenties after college graduations.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.116-126
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• 2019

South Korea is known for its major manufacturing capabilities in semi-conductor, automobile, and IT industries. However, little is known about the competitive capabilities of South Korea's textile industry. The present study presents information about how Korean textile firms build their competitive capabilities on multiple fronts. Through a case study of two businesses operating in the South Korean textile and apparel industry, this paper illustrates a series of competitiveness enhancing initiatives, starting with the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID). The main contribution of this article is the focus on how the interdisciplinary nature of the textile and apparel industry can benefit from and optimize the use of Information Technology through sustained efforts on multiple fronts. This study suggests that Korean textile firms approach their competitive capabilities in terms of strategic direction, innovative priorities, and operational focus. In the competitive global business environment, this could be the solution for the textile and apparel industry, by helping for the survival in the upcoming information age. Specifically, by adopting RFID-based SCM, firms can gain a competitive capability that promises sustainable growth in the future.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.1-6
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• 1996

To obtain the basic data of the effect of antimicrobic finishing on chrome-tanned leather for apparel, it was studied that the specimens given from each step of manufacturing process, that is, steps before and after neutralization and after fixation were treated with Si-QAC as a antimicrobic finishing agent, and the antimicrobic activity was evaluated. The results were as follows: 1. The bacterial reduction of the specimens finished antimicrobically were 100% and 94.4% before and after neutralization respectively, however, the specimens carried out successive process after antimicrobic finishing exhibited the reduction of 16.5% and 14.8%. It was assumed that the antimicrobic agent was washed off by the successive process. 2. When the antimicrobic finishing was carried out on the specimens after fixation the bacterial reduction was 95.0% and then the specimen carried out successive process was 97.3%. This result indicates that antimicrobic finishing on the leather would be given after fixation rather than before and after neutralization.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.129-139
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to suggest the standard size specification of the apparel item as finding out apparel products'sizing problem in the domestic and foreign interned shopping malls. Though that, to suggest basic data of web page offered sizing system given to consumer higher satisfaction and based on ISO (International Organization For Standardization), domestic industry standard and service related size. The summarized findings are as follow. 1. The result of size description research, the size description system between internet site were very different, in addition in the department shopping malls it was different by manufacturing industry. Also in domestic and foreign shopping malls, It was not correspond to ISO and domestic industry standard, used Numeric and Alphabetical size. In the foreign shopping mall it distinguish body type and age group. 2. The result of consumer's satisfaction, the superior fashion malls were Samsung, LG, Fashionpia in the domestic shopping mall, were Gap, JCPenny, Jcrew in the foreign shopping malls. In the total group, 1-5 grades were ranked in the foreign shopping malls. 3. Satisfaction of the foreign fashion mall was higher than that of the domestic fashion malls. Exactly, foreign fashion mall described size chart, size description, product size and body size measuring method but domestic fashion malls didn't describe that. Domestic fashion malls need sizing system development given to consumer higher satisfaction. In addition sizing system based on ISO and domestic industry standard and subdivided to body type and ale group must be studied. Aloe, fashion information, coordination information and product explanation must be reinforced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.9_10
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• pp.1442-1452
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• 2007

During 40 years, clothing industry which took a charge of a pivotal role to lead Korea's economy development falls in a harsh state to maintain an international competitiveness by means of low wage-based-export and tech-deficit-past competitive advantage. From January first 2005 when the World Trade Organization started that developed countries abolished import quota on textile and apparel products. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze Korea's apparel international market share, grasp Korea's apparel international competitiveness position, and examine the export features to enhance international competitiveness. We targeted members of Korea Apparel Industry Association among the 500's exporters of textile and clothing items in 'The Import and Export Textile Product 2003' Total 70 sheets were used of final data analyzing. Also, the statistical data of WTO wereselected for inquiry about the position of international competitiveness of clothing products made in Korea. First, the comparative analysis of the amount of export and international market share of each country's clothing products to capture the position of Korea's international competitiveness of clothing industry under the statistical data of WTO showed that Korea's international market share has been decreasing since 1989, and ranked in the 19th showing 1.31% in 2004. Second, as concerned with Korea's clothing export features, the experience of clothing companies in Korea was uniformly distributed like less than 10 to 30 and more than 30 years and knitted and woven male and female wears which cost mid price were exported to U.S.A. and Europe and Japan. Export items wereusually manufactured by Original Equipment Manufacturing way and directly exported through an exclusive responsible part for export.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.183-199
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• 2015

This study aimed to systematize the apparel vendor work processes and provide useful information to future employees of clothing export units by analyzing the processes of vendors' manufacturing tasks. A survey of 20 apparel vendors servicing mainly U.S. buyers was conducted on employees of overseas business departments working for more than five years. buyers. Based on the results, vendors mainly manufactured cut-and-sew knit products. Regarding the production method, OEM was used more frequently than ODM. Fourteen (70%) companies used the ODM method. This suggests that vendors are expanding their production method from OEM to ODM. In order to summarize the work of each business based on the clothing production process research results, buyers were in charge of planning products and the vendors were in charge of sampling. Production of materials and the approval of material tests were out sourced. Overseas factories of vendors were in charge of bulk (mass) production and garment finishing, as well as packaging and shipping the completed products. Even though the vendors' head offices do not directly produce clothes, they play a pivotal role in ensuring planning and management progress in clothing production. As buyers prefer direct contracts for cost reduction, the vendor additionally performs the role of an agent. Also, with the increase in ODM production ratio, the work area of the vendor is expanding. If Korean clothing exporters improve their global competitiveness by investing in the R&D of materials and design to enhance the ODM method, the development of Korea's clothing and export industry will benefit significantly.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.723-732
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• 2009

The quick response(QR) system is very popular in Korean apparel companies. However, the usage of QR system was not known well. The purpose of this study is to identify the usage of the quick response decision support system(QR DSS) and postponement manufacturing in the Korean apparel company. The researched company was the only one which used the QR DSS. The researchers carried out the depth interview with the QR decision makers of the company. This company had 14 brands, and had used the QR DSS since January, 2008. The results are as follows: The QR DSS was supportive computer software program, and it helped the staffs to make agile decision about QR repeat production of clothing. The QR DSS automatically calculated the related data, and suggested the expected sales volume and the proper supply amounts of the styles. There were four functions in QR DSS : 'QR Alert', 'Proper Supply Amount Simulation', 'Sensible QR', and 'Supply/Sales Simulation by Item'. The men's clothing brands effectively used 'Supply/Sales Simulation by Item' function. And the women's clothing brands effectively used 'QR Alert' function. This company also used the postponement production system for QR repeat production. The postponement production was conducted with four methods : the yarn stocking, the grey fabric stocking, the dyed fabric stocking, and the fabric sourcing. The men's clothing brands usually used of the yarn stocking methods and the dyed fabric stocking methods. The women's clothing brands usually used the grey fabric stocking methods. By using QR DSS and postponement production system the company was able to shorten the lead time for QR decision making.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.12
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• pp.1454-1465
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• 2011

Menswear body types are often labeled on garments (to indicate how the garments are designed to fit) with indicators of a size category such as regular, portly, and stout, athletic, or big and tall. A drop (relationships between the chest and waist girths) is related to the fit of a tailored suit. However, current standards are not designed for various drops or body types. There is not enough information of categorizing men's body shapes for the apparel sizing systems. In this article, a set of men's data from SizeUSA sizing survey was analyzed to investigate men's body shapes and drops. Factor analysis and a cluster analysis method were used to categorize men's body shapes. In the results, twenty-five variables were selected through the factor analysis and found four factors: girth factor, height factor, torso girth factor, and slope degree factor. According to the factor and cluster analysis, various body shapes were found: Slim Shape (SS - tall ectomorphy), Heavy Shape (HS - athletic, big & tall, endomorphy and mesomorphy), Slant Inverted Triangle Shape (SITS - regular, slight ectomorphy and slight mesomorphy weight range from normal to slightly overweight), Short Round Top Shape (SRTS - portly and stout, endomorphy). Body shapes were related to fitting categories. SS and HS were related to big & tall fitting category. SITS was related to regular. SRTS was related to portly and stout. Shape 1 (31%) and Shape 2 (26%) were related to current big & tall category. Shape 3 (34%) were related to regular. Shape 4 (9%) were in portly and stout category. ASTM D 6240 standard was the only available standard that presented a regular fitting category. Various drops were found within a same chest size group; however, this study revealed great variances of drops by body shape.