• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.672-678
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• 2006

This study examines the implications of fashion in self-expression or image management among college students in Korea. Socio-demographic factors are considered in addressing following research questions: why Korean college students seek luxury goods; how they recognize the effects of using luxury goods on their image management; whether or not they have purchased counterfeit luxury goods; and why they buy counterfeit goods. In order to explain the relationship between fashion and social class, the study examines various sociological theories including Erving Goffman's dramaturgical approach. The data were drawn from 1419 students from 10 universities nationwide in 2005. Chi-square analyses yields outcomes as follows: Using luxury goods works as a class symbol that gives the users the image of higher socio-economic background; use of counterfeit luxury goods and its symbolic effects in image management do not have significant relationship with socio-economic background.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.731-743
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• 2022

This study examined the effects of platforms' attributes(economy, convenience, ease of use, and security) on perceived usefulness, perceived enjoyment, trust, and the continuance intention to use. Data were collected through a survey conducted with 327 users of second-hand luxury goods trading platforms in their twenties and thirties; 300 were used for statistical analysis using SPSS26.0 for exploratory factor analysis and correlation analysis, and AMOS 26.0 for confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. For the attributes of second-hand luxury goods trading platforms, four factors were extracted: economy, convenience, ease of use and security. The results showed that only the security of second-hand luxury goods platforms had a positive effect on the perceived usefulness of the platform, but other attributes did not influence perceived usefulness. In contrast, all attributes of the platform showed positive effects on perceived enjoyment. Perceived enjoyment had a strong effect on trust; however, perceived usefulness did not affect trust. The continuance intention to use the platforms was most influenced by perceived usefulness, trust, and perceived enjoyment, in that order. The current findings can help marketers of second-hand luxury goods platforms optimize the platforms' attributes based on the marketing objectives and develop strategies to build perceived usefulness and enjoyment first, and in turn, trust and intention to use.

• Journal of Korea Society of Digital Industry and Information Management
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.117-128
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• 2023

For Korea which has long been highly dependent on international trade for economic growth, the importance of the Brazilian market is likely to increase in the future considering its huge size of 216 million people. Therefore, it would be imperative to analyze and understand Brazilian consumer behavior correctly. This study examines differences in consumer behavior between Brazil and Korea in purchasing luxury goods. According to previous cultural studies, Brazilian consumers are expected to focus on the intrinsic value of products and show a strong compensatory consumption tendency, while Korean consumers focus on symbolic benefits and show a weak compensatory consumption tendency. After conducting and analyzing a survey of young people in their 20s in Korea and in Brazil, all of the hypotheses above were supported. The results suggests that when designing marketing communication strategy in Brazil, it will be more effective when communication is focused on the pleasure of purchasing luxury goods rather than social or symbolic benefits. This study is of greatest significance in that it is one of the few studies comparing the characteristics of Brazilian and Korean consumers.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.17-35
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to investigate the benefits sought by luxury good customers contingent on product category, and to understand the relationship between the benefits sought and brand loyalty. A qualitative approach was used; therefore in-depth interviews were conducted with seven panels of professionals in the luxury industry. The findings are as follows: 1) Handbag customers mainly seek the social benefits in order to express their social status by purchasing well-known, easily-recognizable brands. 2) Shoe customers primarily seek the practical-functional benefits, which are comfort and function. 3) Small Leather Goods customers seek the social benefits for themselves and as gifts for others. 4) Brand loyalty for handbag customers is reported to be low, as their primary goals are the social benefits. Rather than devoting themselves to one specific brand, handbag customers prefer to purchase from various brands. 5) Shoe customers have reportedly higher brand loyalty, as they tend to come back to brands when they are satisfied with the benefits they pursue. The findings of this study provide more information on the practical implications of luxury good customer purchasing habits. Firstly, customers pursue different benefits depending on product category, and secondly, brand loyalty differs by customers' benefits.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.827-837
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to observe premium handbag users who are 20 to 30 year old of age, to determine purchase behavior and design preference of handbags by lifestyle and age variable to help market segmentation. A survey instrument was used. A sample was selected by quota sampling method from 20 to 30 aged Korean women, and reliable 538 data were analyzed by SPSS. Cluster type towards lifestyle and age were independent variable. There are two types of lifestyle clusters toward luxury handbags; Strongly favored and weakly favored group toward luxury handbags. Strongly favored group of luxury goods considered more brand, country of origin, and trend, while young people considered more new arrival of design in purchase of products. Preferred design type of hand bag was statistically associated with age variable. 20s consumers preferred shopper bag style and big size of handbags. Leather was preferred by the group of the strongly favored luxury goods. Through this research finding, we hope handbag brand market segmentation will be based on lifestyle and age variable to reflect customer's demand.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.64-71
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• 2019

Climate change and global warming are the biggest challenges of the current generation. Every industry has contributed to the climate change and global warming. Even the apparel industry cannot avoid the criticism regarding fast fashion and its contribution to the pollution. The transition to the decarbonized economy is in progress. All aspects of business functions are influenced by climate change. Sustainable development and climate change are closely linked, and business plays the key role in addressing and finding solutions to the challenges of climate change. Luxury brands are the trendsetters and tastemakers. They are the leaders in the fashion industry and therefore responsible for improving on sustainability as well. Even luxury business cannot avoid environmental issues. The relation between luxury and sustainability is explored with the Burberry case based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework. There are various ways for luxury brands to excel in sustainability and affect other companies' practices. The companies can incorporate the concept of sustainability in their brand stories as part of the branding process. They can also improve demand planning accuracy and produce upcycled goods. Centering on Burberry's case, this paper aims to explore the current sustainable practices of luxury business along with its future direction toward sustainable development. Its contribution and directions for both researchers and business practitioners are discussed.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.195-215
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• 2010

The emergence of the luxury market has led numerous academic researchers, as well as marketers in the luxury market, to pay attention to both identifying luxury brand features and measuring perceptions toward luxury brands. Especially, Korea is a significant emerging market for luxury goods. Young consumers and male consumers are getting into the luxury market fast and these new segments will keep increasing. There are only a few studies related to distinctive definitions of luxury brands and measurement development for the Korean market. However, there are some limitations in these previous studies in that they did not capture the nature of luxury due to their inappropriate of subjects and approach in data collection and to lack of a perspective of Korean specific features. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify Korean consumers' perceptions toward luxury products and, ultimately, to develop a reliable and valid measurement items for the luxury products' features for the Korean market. Defining the three high constructs(functional, emotional, and symbolic aspects) as a key needs and benefits on luxury brands, we looked at four stages of development for generating and deducting items by luxury industry experts and luxury consumers, as well as for testing measures by 20th~60th consumers. As a result, this study confirmed that luxury brands consists of high quality, high price, unique design, and luxury store; the emotional aspect construct combines craftsmanship, VIP service, and high social status; and the symbolic construct includes brand heritage and being a well-known brand. Finally, 22 measurement items (Measures of Luxury Brand for Korea: LBK) were developed for the conceptual features for luxury brands from a Korean perspective. This study provided understanding of Korean consumers' perceptions toward luxury brands from an academic perspective. For the managerial implication of this study, LBK can be utilized to judge both luxury brands and mass brands, to diagnose current a brand's luxuriousness, from the customer's point-of-view, and, finally, to measure a Key Performance Index (KPI) of luxury brand companies.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.1-14
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• 2018

As interest and consumption of luxury goods have become more popular, luxury goods market is growing rapidly. Consumers can acquire psychological satisfaction with material abundance by purchasing and using luxury goods. Also, from the view of corporations, luxury goods have price inelastic characteristics, so they can enjoy price premium and it is good to produce good performance. That is the reason why they should pay much attention to securing luxuriousness. This study examined the establishment of brands luxuriousness in Korean SMEs. First, it examined the world market of luxury goods industry and the present condition of Korean market. Then it identified the constituents of luxuriousness by examining the prior studies and related literatures, and designed a research model based on the theoretical grounds to suggest the methods of brand luxuriousness building of Korean SMEs. Luxuriousness can be defined as the attribute of product that distinguishes luxury goods from other products by consumers' perceptions, and the factor that provides situational benefits that motivate consumers' purchasing behavior. In this study, I identified the sub-dimensions of luxuriousness according to whether there are product related attributes and consumers' benefit in consideration of the problems of existing studies. Product related luxuriousness are classified into superiority(functional benefit) and scarcity(experiential benefit), while non-product related luxuriousness are classified into differentiation(symbolic benefit) and traditionality(exclusive benefit). The following are the ways to build brand luxuriousness. First, company can use product factors. High quality, excellent design, high recognized brand with strong, favorable and unique images can enhance the luxuriousness of brand. Second, company can use price factors. Consumers tend to perceive luxury goods as high-priced items, so lowering the price of product can undermine the luxuriousness of product. Third, company can use distribution factors. It is effective for making consumers to perceive the differentiation and scarcity of luxuriousness through limited distribution channel. In addition, store atmosphere suitable for luxury brands should be created. Fourth, company can use promotion factors. The more consumers are exposed to advertisements, the more positive attitudes toward luxury brands are made, and consumers recognize luxuriousness higher. Price promotion negatively affects consumers' perception of luxuriousness. Fifth, company can use corporate factors. Consumer evaluations of products are influenced not only by the product attributes but also by the corporate association and corporate image surrounding the product. Considering the existing researches, it is possible to enhance the brand luxuriousness through high corporate competence and good corporate reputation. In order to increase the competence of the enterprise, it is useful to approach multidimensionally in relation with the knowledge creation capability. In corporate reputation, the external stakeholders' reputation is important, but the internal members' reputation is also important. Korean SMEs will be able to build brand luxuriousness by establishing marketing strategies as above and/or mix(integrate) them according to the situation.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2010

During the past 10 years, sales of luxury goods increased significantly to more than US$ 130 billion in 2007. In this industry, more than half of the revenue comes from Asia where the average income has risen significantly, and the demand for luxury products is forecast to grow rapidly. Purchasing luxury brands appears to be an intriguing social phenomenon that is profitable for companies in this region. As a newly developed country, Korea is one of the most attractive luxury markets in Asia. Currently, a total of 120 luxury fashion brands have entered the Korean market, primarily in luxury districts in Seoul where the competition is fierce. The purposes of this study are to: (1) identify antecedents of attitude toward luxury brands, (2) examine the effect of attitudes toward luxury brands on customer equity, (3) determine the impact of attitudes toward luxury brands on customer lifetime value, and (4) investigate the influence of customer equity on customer life time value. Previous studies have examined materialism, social need, experiential need, need for uniqueness, conformity, and fashion involvement as antecedents of attitude toward luxury brands. Richins and Dowson (1992) suggested that that materialism influences consumption behavior relative to quantity of goods purchased. Nueno and Quelch (1998) reported that the ownership of luxury brands conveys information related to the owner's social status, communicates an image of success and prestige, and is a determinant of purchase behavior. Experiential need is recognized as an important aspect of consumption, especially for new products developed to meet consumer demand. Since luxury goods, by definition are relatively scarce, ownership of these types of products may fulfill consumers' need for uniqueness. In this study, value equity, relationship equity, and brand equity are examined as drivers of customer equity. The sample (n = 114) was undergraduate and graduate students at two private women's universities in Seoul, Korea. Data collection was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire survey in March, 2009. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, factor analysis, reliability analysis, and regression analysis using SPSS 15.0 software. Data analysis resulted in a number of conclusions. First, experiential need and fashion involvement positively influence participants' attitude toward luxury brands. Second, attitude toward luxury brands positively influences brand equity, followed by value equity and relationship equity. However, there is no significant relationship between attitude toward luxury brand and customer lifetime value. Finally, relationship equity positively influences customer lifetime value. In conclusion, young consumers are an important potential consumer group that tries different brands to discover the ones most suitable for them. Luxury marketers that use effective marketing strategies to attract and engender loyalty among this potentially lucrative consumer group may increase customer equity and lifetime value.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.66 no.3
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• pp.93-106
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• 2016

The aims of this study are to elucidate the relationship between the luxurious trends of costumes and the importation of Ming's patterned textiles in the $17^{th}$ century, and to analyze the similarity between certain Joseon and Ming fabric patterns. After Imjinwaeran[임진왜란] and Byungjahoran[병자호란], more diverse Joseon textile patterns appeared. Generally, wars lead to a shortage of luxury goods and basic commodities. However, $17^{th}$ century Joseon had an abundance of luxury goods, which allowed even some commoners to have clothing made of Chinese silk. That was the result of free trade between the Koreans and the Chinese merchants in Joseon. Ming's merchants followed the Ming's troops into the Korean Peninsula and targeted Koreans to sell their goods, such as fur coats and fur hats. Free trade between Ming and Joseon took place at Junggang [중강] and Donggangjin [동강진]. Joseon imported Chinese textiles there and resold them to Japanese merchants. Some of the Changgi Chung's excavated fabrics might be an evidence of the import from the Ming. These fabrics had the inscription and were similar to Ming fabrics. It can be assumed that trade occurred between Joseon, China, and Japan, as fabrics found in the countries had similar patterns such as flower, bee, and four seasons, which represented longevity. Furthermore, Chinese fabrics might have triggered Joseon's weaving skills to develop, which led to the ability to weave refined and beautiful brocade satin at Sangbang [상방]. According to Uigwe[의궤], Sangbang could weave silk fabrics in the 1620s and 1630s. The improvement of weaving techniques might make it possible to weave some popular patterns at Sangbang.