• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.262-270
• /
• 2009

The objectives of this study were to investigate university students' knowledge and expectation of functional materials for apparel and to examine how the knowledge and expectations affect their behavioral intention. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was conducted. 500 questionnaires were distributed to the students and 409 questionnaires were used for data analysis. The data were analyzed by frequency, factor analysis, reliability analysis, regression analysis and ANOVA, using SPSS 12.0 package. As the results, it showed that the knowledge related to functional materials for apparel was medium level. Brand knowledge among the objective knowledge of functional materials for apparel revealed to have a lower level than the knowledge of clothing materials, product, use and wash & care. The level of self-evaluation knowledge among subjective knowledge appeared to be lower than the one of experience related knowledge. As the correlation coefficient of objective knowledge and subjective knowledge was low, it was thought that both of them must be considered in studying on consumer knowledge. It showed that the university students' expectation of functional materials for apparel was composed of physiological and physical aspects, social and psychological aspects, and practical and aesthetic aspects. The expectation was revealed to be generally high. However, the level of expectation to the practical and aesthetic aspects was lower than those of other aspects. University students' knowledge and expectation were found to have influence on their behavioral intention. In other words, it showed that the higher university students' knowledge level and expectation level were, the bigger behavioral intention was.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.31 no.4 s.163
• /
• pp.507-518
• /
• 2007

This study aimed to investigate the competitive advantages of Chinese fashion industry and firms to Korean fashion industry by applying the generalized double-diamond theory. Data collection was done by internet and fax survey. Questionnaires were distributed to the Korean textiles and apparel firms who entered China for production anuor distribution. List of firms were provided by KOFOTI, KOTRA, and Korea Apparel Industry Association. Total 198 questionnaires were distributed, and 77 questionnaires were used for final analysis. The results were follows. Korea's competitiveness scores of double-diamond model were higher in every aspects, such as demand condition, infra/supportive industry, firms's strategy and competition except factor condition. Glottalization score in double diamond model measured by the degree of glottalization which was determined by international diamond factors which make firm's multinational/international activities possible. Chinese fashion industry's globalization score of factor condition was significantly higher than Korea, but for the rest of aspects, Korean fashion industry showed higher scores. Therefore, Korean fashion firms can overcome comparative disadvantage of factor condition by utilizing Chinese fashion industry no matter what type of entry. In addition, considering the growth rate of Chinese fashion industry and its power of influence in the world market, the entry to the global market of the Korean fashion industry can be possible.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.32 no.12
• /
• pp.1878-1890
• /
• 2008

The main objective of this study was to examine how Chinese consumers' perceptions toward Korean apparel products have changed over the years. Specifically, motives for purchasing Korean apparel products, information sources, purchase criteria and evaluation on Korean apparel products were investigated. Data were collected in 2002, 2003, 2005, and 2007 from young female Chinese in Beijing, China during the months of June and July. A total of 603 questionnaires were collected and 578 were used in the final analysis. The results of two-way analysis of variance by year and purchase experience indicated that in overall, purchase motives and importance of various information sources changed greatly over the years, while evaluation on Korean apparel products have remained relatively stable. In comparison to the longitudinal changes in Chinese perception toward Korean apparel products, Chinese consumers' perception toward Korean apparel products did not differ significantly in most of variables according to purchase experience.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.244-255
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study was 1) to inquire into characteristics of apparel manufacturers and distributors in China, 2) to classify private Guanxi and organizational relationship type, 3) to find differences in private Guanxi to enterprise type and the class of participations' position, and 4) to also find effects of private Guanxi on organizational relationship. Apparel manufacturers and distributors in China participated in the study. Random sampling method was used to collect the data. Data from 173 questionnaires were used for the statistical analysis. Descriptive analysis, factor analysis, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, t-test, and regression analysis were conducted. Two factors of private Guanxi were classified(i.e., affective Guanxi, instrumental Guanxi). Three factors of organizational relationship type were identified(i.e., opportunistic relationship, cooperative relationship, vertical relationship). The results indicated that distributors regarded affective Guanxi as important more than manufactures and employees regarded affective Guanxi and instrumental Guanxi as important more than presidents. Distributors regarded cooperative relationship as important more than manufactures. Employees regarded organizational relationship as important more than presidents. Affective Guanxi positively affected on cooperative relationship and vertical relationship but negatively affected on opportunistic relationship. Instrumental Guanxi positively affected on opportunistic relationship and vertical relationship. The result of this study may give valuable information to retail merchandisers and strategists who participated in fashion business in China.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.338-346
• /
• 2010

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate consumers' narcissistic orientation group and apparel products benefits sought. The data were collected from 272 female consumers in Pusan, Daegu and Ulsan. The aforementioned were analyzed utilizing frequency, factor analysis, cluster analysis, MANOVA using SPSS Win 12.0. The results were as follows. First, cluster analysis on narcissism orientation identified four groups such as non-narcissism group, high narcissism group, privilege conscious group and achievable desire conscious group. Second, the groups related to their apparel products benefits sought were high narcissism group and privilege conscious group. There were significantly differences between the groups and apparel products benefits sought such as social prestige, impressive improvement and personality.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
• /
• v.31 no.5 s.164
• /
• pp.765-776
• /
• 2007

Customer expectations and requirements for products play an important role in product planning for companies and decision making process for the consumer. These expectations are expressed by product qualities that consumers consider important when they purchase. Therefore, to identify quality elements that reflect consumer requirements would be a useful guide for companies. The purposes of this study are to find out quality factors of apparel product, to identify apparel product quality elements using Kano's theory, to find attributes of product which improvement are required. Women over 20 years-old from metropolitan areas in South Korea participated in the study and a quota sampling method was used. A questionnaire was arranged with four separate subject sections, importance of quality, Kano's questionnaires, and demographics. Data from 525 questionnaires were used for the statistical analysis. The results were as follows: Six dimensions of product quality(i.e., usefulness, performance, aesthetic, symbol, individuality and appearance) were identified. According to Kano's quality elements, performance was categorized into must-be quality which could lead to product dissatisfaction. Usefulness and appearance were categorized into one-dimensional quality which lead to both satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Aesthetic, symbol, and individuality was categorized into attractive quality which could lead to satisfaction. Findings of this study provide both industry and academic researchers with a guide to increase customer satisfaction in the product development process.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
• /
• v.10 no.3
• /
• pp.298-306
• /
• 2008

The purpose of this study was to consumer's evaluation toward salesperson attributes, satisfaction of salesperson and apparel store on relationship continuity. To this end, a total of 500 questionnaires were distributed to men and women university students and 443 samples were used for the final analysis. Data were analyzed by using frequency, percentage, factor analysis, cluster analysis, One-way ANOVA, crosstabs, Pearson's correlation analysis, regression analysis. The results of this study were as follows; Looking at the effects of evaluation toward salesperson attributes, satisfaction of salesperson on relationship continuity, they showed satisfaction of salesperson had direct influence on relationship continuity extremely when men and women university students are purchasing their clothing. Uniformity, customer orientation, expertise, kindness were as follows. Looking at the effects of evaluation toward salesperson attributes, satisfaction of apparel store on relationship continuity, it showed uniformity has direct influence on maintaining relations extremely when men and women university students are purchasing their clothing. Customer orientation, satisfaction of apparel store, expertise, kindness were as follows. Through this study, it will be applied into program development data for consumer management and education, and salesperson's efficient consumer response as well.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
• /
• v.13 no.4 s.57
• /
• pp.526-539
• /
• 2005

Recently in the apparel industry, early adolescent girls are emerging as a new consumer group. In response to this, companies are developing clothes, cosmetics, underwear, etc. This study proposed a new size range and size interval for early adolescent girls and presented reference measurements for body parts necessary in designing clothes. For this purpose, a total of 529 girls aged between 10 and 14 were measured and data were collected from 42 anthropometric measurements and 41 photographic measurements per a person. SAS 8.1 was used in data analysis including means, standard deviations, frequency analysis. Based on the results, this study proposed: for Type A - 7 sizes (140A-67, 145A-65, 145A-69, 150A-69, 150A-73, 155A-73, 155A-76): for Type X - 7 sizes (150x-72, 155x-72, 155x-77, 160x-77, 160x-80, 165x-77, 165x-80); and for Type H - 8 sizes (145H-74, 145H-82, 150H-78, 150H-82, 155H-82, 155H-86, 160H-86, 160H-88). Reference measurements suggested for upper garments were 9 items. The outcome of this study may be used as a basic material for adolescent apparel manufacturers to set their apparel sizing system and to supply their consumers, namely, adolescent girls with products fitting their somatotype.

• Journal of Fashion Business
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.62-76
• /
• 2009

The purpose of this study is to identify apparel consumers' immoral shopping behaviors from apparel retail sales associates' perspectives. As a first step to understand immoral consumer behaviors in apparel retail setting, the study took an exploratory approach using five focus-group interviews with 35 apparel salespeople. The immoral behavior of fashion (product) consumers was divided into two categories: one was the immoral behavior associated with the product, and the other was the immoral behavior relative to the consumer. The immoral behavior associated with the product was classified into three types: shoplifting, inappropriate returns, and damaging to merchandise. Immoral behavior relative to the consumer was classified into two types: abusive behavior by a consumer toward sales associates and excessive demand. Although, shoplifting was the primary immoral behavior mentioned by all interview participants, most sales associates failed to recognize shoplifting as a serious criminal behavior. Another commonly mentioned immoral consumer behaviors was retail borrowing, which may pose serious problems to the fashion industry. The findings of this study will provide a basis for approaches that may help decrease immoral consumer behavior at fashion retail stores and provide a basis for developing materials for consumer education over the long term.

• Fashion Information and Technology
• /
• v.3
• /
• pp.13-23
• /
• 2006