• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.20-35
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• 2024

The term 'fashion capital' has been used in conjunction with Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital. The aim of the present study was to explore the concept of fashion capital existing independently within the field of fashion. In-depth interviews were conducted with 8 fashion specialists and enthusiasts, seeking to uncover the structures, characteristics, and paths of fashion capital accumulation possessed by individuals with high fashion capital. As a result, fashion capital was broadly categorized into inherited capital, acquired capital, and institutionalized capital. Key components were identified, including inherited capital related to influence of family and childhood environment, acquired capital encompassing fashion activities, fashion knowledge, and ability to appreciate fashion, and institutionalized capital represented by economic benefits transformed from other forms of capitals. Additionally, 13 supplementary elements were identified. These elements could be broadly categorized into inherited, acquired capital, and institutionalized capital, as outlined by Bourdieu. This study initiates an academic discussion on the concept of fashion capital within the domain of fashion consumer research. Findings of this study have potential to provide educational and practical implications for both fashion industry and academia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.9_10
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• pp.1342-1351
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• 2007

Using a data set drawn from 1419 college students, this study analyzes what implications clothing or fashion has on self-expression or image management in Korean society and who are more likely to use fashion as a image management tool in the process of interacting with others. Employing Pierre Bourdieu's concept of capital, we discuss three theories concerning correspondence between class and fashion: the theory focusing on economic capital in emphasizing the correspondence; the theory focusing on cultural capital in emphasizing the correspondence and the theory emphasizing relationships between fashion and other factors rather than class. Based on the theoretical examination, we select independent variables that can be grouped into status/class variables, or economic capital variables(such as subjective status, income, father's education, father's occupation) and socio-cultural variables, or cultural capital variables(such as possession of cultural capital, desire for upward mobility). Upon regressing strategic use of fashion on independent variables, we find that both status/class variables and socio-cultural variables are statistically significant in explaining the strategic mobilization of fashion for one's image production or social success. It shows that class as a form of economic capital has important effects on the strategic use of fashion, and cultural capital also has effects independent of economic capital.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.27-43
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• 2015

The objective of this study is to find out the construct of intellectual capital in a fashion company. To this end, the mixed research methods that combined qualitative and quantitative approaches were conducted. Qualitative research was first conducted by in-depth interviews with 16 experts working in the fashion industry, and a questionnaire was then given to 121 fashion companies in order to fulfill the quantitative research portion of this study. The findings of this study are as follows: First, the conceptual structure of intellectual capital in a fashion company was revealed. A fashion company's intellectual capital is composed of 'human capital', 'structural capital', and 'relational capital'. Human capital has three components: a chief executive officer (CEO), members, and a human resource management capability. Structural capital has four components: organizational culture, information management capability, merchandising capability, and product innovation capability. Relational capital has three components: customer equity, marketing capability, and relationship management capability. Second, the conceptual structure of intellectual capital was confirmed via quantitative research analysis. All of the components of intellectual capital have internal consistency, convergent validity, construct validity, and discriminant validity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.99-115
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• 2022

The purpose of this study is to explore the benefits of social capital obtained through the use of social media from the perspective of fashion. The study conducted in-depth interviews with 10 women in their 20s who utilized Instagram and YouTube for fashion-related activities. The results show that bonding social capital was related to Instagram and led increasingly to narrow and deep relationships with acquaintances who had already established offline relationships. The study also finds that informational benefit was derived from people who use Instagram image information for smart fashion consumption; in addition, positive feedback on their posts brought the emotional benefit of psychological satisfaction. On the other hand, bridge social capital developed from YouTube users and subscribers. The study discovers that YouTuber public communication or the exchange of opinions leads to an increase in bridge social capital, which is a wide and shallow relationship. Video-based YouTube brought informational benefits as a specific product description, and there were emotional benefits in terms of entertainment while watching videos that combined fashion and entertainment. This report sheds light on individual fashion activities on social media, which is discussed from the perspective of social capital.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.157-174
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• 2015

This research intends to observe the effects of social capital regarding fashion social enterprises on the community sense of participating consumers, and verify the relationship of the effects that such social capital and community sense have on sustainability formation variable(shared values, suitability of values, behavioral flow, cognitive belief and long-term relationship orientation) of social enterprises. For such analysis, a sample of 400 consumers with experience of purchasing products of fashion social enterprises more than once was utilized, and path analysis was conducted utilizing AMOS 20.0. As a result of this research, first, information sharing, social participation among the characteristic factors of social enterprises' social capital had a meaningful impact on shared values, and self-pursuit and significance meaningfully affected the suitability of values. Second, mutual influence, sense of belonging, satisfaction of needs and emotional bond among the characteristic factors of community sense between social enterprises and consumers meaningfully affected shared values, whereas mutual influence, sense of belonging and emotional bond substantially influenced suitability of values. Third, shared values and suitability of values affected the relationship between behavioral flow and cognitive trust, and behavioral flow and cognitive trust both had meaningful impact on long-term relationship orientation.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.148-163
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• 2024

With the digitalization of production and consumption environments, consumers are no longer merely targets of marketing, but key players in creating value jointly with companies by participating in various decision-making processes. Much virtual content in particular, such as fashion shows, exhibitions, games, social activities, and shopping, which fashion brands implement in virtual worlds, cannot be completed without consumers' active engagement and interaction. Thus, this study considers consumers' participation in virtual content provided by fashion brands as value co-creation in virtual worlds. This study aims to examine how consumer (i.e., consumer smartness) and fashion firm (i.e., perceived intellectual capital) factors influence value co-creation behavior intention in virtual worlds. Data were collected from 410 consumers in their 20s nationwide through an online survey, and a higher-order structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to test the research model. The results showed that both consumer smartness and perceived intellectual capital positively influenced customer participation behavior and citizenship behavior intentions. Specifically, perceived intellectual capital had a greater impact on value co-creation behavior in the virtual world than consumer smartness. The findings provide empirical evidence that the fashion firms' intangible assets and consumers' competence in the digital shopping environment encourage their intentions to co-create value in virtual worlds.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.194-206
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• 2017

This study analyzed the effect of individualism-collectivism propensity and social capital on participation activity as well as the effect of participation activity on fashion brands relationship orientation of social network service users. Also, this study investigated the difference in participation activity and fashion brands relationship orientation by participation level of social network service. A survey was conducted from October 1 to November 31, 2015, and 476 responses were used in the analysis. As results, the individualism-collectivism propensity was composed of vertical-horizontal individualism and vertical-horizontal collectivism. The social capital was composed of trust, norm, and network. Also, the participation activity was composed of personal interaction, consumer rights, information pursuit, interest pursuit, and economic pursuit. Vertical individualism positively affected information pursuit and economic pursuit, and horizontal individualism positively affected personal interaction, consumer rights, and information pursuit; in addition, vertical collectivism positively affected personal interaction, consumer rights, and interest pursuit. Horizontal collectivism positively affected information pursuit, but it negatively affected consumer rights. Consumer rights, information pursuit, interest pursuit, and economic pursuit of participation activity positively affected fashion brands relationship orientation. Also, there were significant differences in the participation activity and fashion brands relationship orientation by participation level. The study results provide useful information to the marketing strategies using social network service of fashion brands.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.766-775
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• 2019

This study investigated the appearance management aspects of middle-aged male CEO's based on Bourdieu's class theory. We conducted in-depth interviews with male CEOs in their 40s and 50s to understand the characteristics of appearance management in terms of economic, cultural and social capital. We found that they acquire educational capital based on their parents' economic capital and form their own cultural capital as adults. They had the characteristics of Petit Brujois, which aimed for a higher class. The characteristics of differentiation based on appearance management identified three results came from solidifying one's class position: clothing management, diversifying and upgrading appearance management, and pursuing their own ideal image. The influence of social network and cultural capital was also observed in appearance management. This study explored the characteristics of discriminatory appearance management through an in-depth study of middle-aged male CEOs as well as contributed to understanding the context of capital and appearance management by applying Bourdieu's class theory. In addition, this study provides basic data that can be referred to a design and marketing direction for the men's clothing market by providing information on male consumers with high purchasing power.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.943-958
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• 2023

This study explores the sneakerhead subculture through the lens of subcultural capital, primarily focusing on online community interactions. The analysis utilizes text mining techniques and netnographic research methods to examine textual data extracted from the online sneakerhead community and aims to elucidate manifestations of subcultural capital within the subculture. The findings underscore several key points: Firstly, shared experiences cultivated by the collective consciousness of subcultural capital foster solidarity among members. Secondly, ongoing validation of authenticity and comprehension of sneakers' cultural significance are member requirements. Subsequently, exhibiting greater levels of subcultural capital empowers members, resulting in hierarchical structures both within and beyond the community. Fourthly, resale-driven sneaker commercialization yields positive outcomes, including individual profit and cultural expansion, yet also brings negative consequences, such as market distortion and intra-community conflict. Lastly, the online community fills a pivotal role in dictating subcultural trends, effectively functioning as an institutional network. Given sneakers' enduring status as a fashion phenomenon, further examination of in this realm is warranted.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.88-99
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• 2000

Venture industry is becoming a driving force of Korean economy in the digital age of the 21 st century. The success of venture business depends on innovative technology, capital investment, and optimal environment providing industrial flexibility. Although venture business is starting to settle down in Korea, many barriers and challenges still remain. The current study analyzes the present status of venture business including fashion business and issues concerning the venture fund raising and provides prospective views to promote and improve venture industry in Korea.