• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.151-163
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the perceptions of MZ's on eco-friendly consumption and their preferences for eco-friendly souvenirs. The top reasons for buying upcycling products include design, price, differentiation, and environmentalism, with design having the most influence on product purchase. Design is also a top consideration when buying upcycling souvenirs. Regarding environmental issues, they were most aware of the seriousness of environmental pollution and thought that recycling of fashion products was necessary. When it comes to eco-friendly fashion purchasing behaviors, the most common choice is to buy clothes that will last longer than those that are in fashion. Upcycling products are more likely to be purchased when there is a concern for the environment or an interest in eco-friendly products. In addition, those who have purchased upcycling products are more likely to be aware of and interested in eco-friendly fashion products and recycling of fashion products. Women are more likely than men to be concerned about environmental issues, and women are also more likely to be aware of upcycling souvenirs. In future research, it would be useful to study the relationship between upcycling products, environmental issues, consumer behavior, and upcycling souvenirs.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.89-99
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• 2014

Purchasing behavior for upcycled fashion products was examined along with analysis on environment consciousness, clothing recycling behavior, interest in fashion and awareness of upcycling. Students from middle schools, general high schools and design high schools participated in this research from August to September in 2013. 732 questionnaires were analyzed by SPSS WIN. Firstly the levels of environmental consciousness, clothing recycling behavior and interest in fashion of students were high, low and mediate respectively. Female students showed higher environmental consciousness compared to male ones and clothing recycling behavior were found to be higher in students of design high schools than those of general ones. The level of interest in fashion was found to be higher in students of general high school than those of middle school, and this was higher in design high school students than those of general ones. Secondly, more than half of students were unaware of upcycling. Female students and students of design high schools were highly aware of upcycling. Students who were aware of upcycling showed high level of environmental consciousness, clothing recycling behaviour and interest in fashion. Thirdly, students had low experiences in purchasing upcycled fashion products and the reason was lack of awareness of upcycling. The reason that students purchased upcycled fashion products was the uniqueness and design. Students who purchased upcycled fashion products showed high environmental consciousness, clothing recycling behaviour, and interest in fashion.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.216-226
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• 2015

This study identifies factors of perceived risk of up-cycling fashion products and investigates perceived risk factors that influence consumers' trust, purchase intention, and recommendation intention towards upcycling fashion products. We also examine the relationship of trust, purchase intention, and recommendation intention for upcycling fashion products. A qualitative research method using a free narrative form and depth interview were used. The perceived risk from up-cycling fashion products generated 5 factor solutions: aesthetic risk, sanitary risk, social risk, performance risk, and economic risk. Next, 201 effective data were collected from a questionnaire survey and analyzed with SPSS 22.0. The results are summarized as follows. First, aesthetic risk and performance risk had a negative effect on products. Second, aesthetic risk and performance risk had negative influence on purchase intention for upcycling fashion products. Third, performance risk had a negative impact on recommendation intention for upcycling fashion products. Fourth, trust had positive effect on purchase intention and recommendation intention for upcycling fashion products. The results of the current study provides various theoretical and practical implications for marketers and retailers interested in up-cycling fashion products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.95-111
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• 2019

This study is the 2nd report following "A Study on the Characteristics of Material in the Korean Up-cycling Fashion Brands (Part I)" that handled the development of upcycling props using the characteristics of upcycling material. The 2nd report analyzed product types and materials focusing on 21 foreign upcycling fashion brands. It analyzed the characteristics of upcycling fashion materials using the case analysis of coffee bean bag and waste denim based on external characteristics and internal characteristics. We then classified the external characteristics into environment/economic feasibility and availability/mixture and the internal characteristics into historicality/story and originality/scarcity. Five bags were designed and produced for the actual commercialization of fashion products based on such characteristics of materials, with the use of coffee bean bags and waste denim as upcycling materials. This study is differentiated from existing research by its suggestions for the utilization of fashion product upcycling coffee bean bags and waste denim. Also, upcycling fashion products could be competitive products in eco-friendliness and originality that can be a driving force for the sustainable development of fashion industry through the differentiation of existing fashion products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.257-270
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• 2015

This study investigates the effect of perceived value on attitude and purchase intention of upcycling fashion goods. The study also examines the effect of perceived value on attitudes according to fashion innovativeness. The qualitative data analysis results from NVivo 10.0 showed that consumers paid attention to the creative design value, environmental value, scarcity value of upcycling fashion goods. Next, 201 effective questionnaires were analyzed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 20.0. The results are as follows. First, there were 5 factor solutions for the perceived value of up-cycling fashion goods: environmental value, creative design value, functional value, emotional value, and self-expression value. Second, environmental value, functional value, and self-expression value positively affected attitude; however, creative design value and emotional value did not affect attitude. Third, attitude positively influenced purchase intention of upcycling fashion goods. Fourth, there was a significant difference in the magnitude of the effect of self-expression value on attitude according to fashion innovativeness. The results of this study provide useful information for marketers or managers interested in upcycling fashion goods.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.111-117
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• 2014

This study investigated the perception of upcycling for sensitive university students in regards to fashion trends. It was conducted through questionnaires delivered to male and female college students who majored in clothing related subjects from June 2012 to June 2013 in Gwangju. The contents for this research are general details, seriousness of environmental resources, awareness of upcycle, and purchasing intention for upcycling products. Most of the respondents said that recycling of resources is absolutely necessary due to the impact of environmental pollution and the consumption of resources. On the contrary, the experience of the respondents which purchased recycling products was low. The awareness of also was low, upcycling, internal upcycling brands and internal consumption groups, however, the decisions for subsequent purchases were positive. The reasons for the unsatisfactory of upcycling of products were due to quality and price. The reaction for many upcycle goods had the best question response rate in daily supplies part; subsequently, this study suggested 3 items, apparel products, fashion accessories, and daily supplies. In addition, a group which contains people who expend more for clothing had a lower awareness of upcycle and purchasing intention than other groups that contained some people who expend less. The results of the study can be used in data that recognize the necessary of upcycle education for university students, and develop educational programs. It can also encourage the purchase of upcycle products that reduce the consumption of resources.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.127-139
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• 2019

Up-cycling has evolved from its original form of the simple recycling of waste, into an industry of its own that has been gaining momentum. In many developed industries, up-cycling is increasingly seen as an 'environmentally-friendly way of production and ethical way of consumption'. However, an examination of the designs of branded up-cycled products suggests that there is a need for product development fueled by further research on materials. The purpose of this study is to introduce various production methods that can overcome the shortcomings of using waste material and Korean motifs for use in product development, which ultimately contribute to enhancing the potential variety and character of up-cycled products. In order to do so, the up-cycling industry was examined to define key concepts, domestic and overseas markets were surveyed, and case analyses were conducted on domestic and foreign up-cycling brands. In addition, after tracking how leather is discarded and accumulated as waste and then collecting the discarded leather, the properties of the material were analyzed. A study of Korean motifs was followed by the concept summary, and upcycling design expressions that exemplify Korean images were identified. The following two novel methods were used to create six up-cycled bags using collected discarded leather. First, lucky bags and moon pots were selected from various Korean motifs in order to use motifs with identifiable features. Secondly, different variations of cutting and attachment methods were used, including iron mold production methods and presses.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-190
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• 2018

Fashion industry constantly produces and consumes, which leads to huge waste piles of perfectly usable textiles in landfills, as well as other negative effects of an exploitative and excessively rapid fashion process. Pollution created by making and dyeing clothes has pitted fashion industry and environmentalists against each other. In this context, upcycling is seen as an optimal way to solve the growing problem of waste in fashion industry. The first purpose of the study was to analyze the relationships between upcycling fashion products' perceived value, pro-environmental beliefs, attitudes, electronic word of mouth (eWOM) intention, and purchase intention. The second purpose is to verify the difference of perceived consumption value among the consumers' awareness level and purchase experience. A total of 258 valid responses obtained from a group of 20-30-year-old participants were collected through an online survey. SPSS 23.0 and Amos 18.0 programs were used for data analysis. The results of the present study suggest that there are significant effects of upcycling fashion products' perceived value on pro-environmental belief; furthermore, pro-environmental belief was found to positively influence attitude, eWOM intention, and purchase intention. In addition, there are differences of perceived consumption value among the consumers' awareness level and purchase experience. Taken together, the results of this study provide researchers and practitioners with a deeper understanding of consumers' values, beliefs, attitudes, and behavioral intentions towards upcycling fashion products.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.899-918
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• 2018

Upcycling is the process of repurposing abandoned resources or useless products into products of better quality or higher environmental value. Upcycling products are evaluated to be sustainable because they demonstrate environmental values. However, domestic upcycling companies are operating on a small scale with a slow growth rate. This study aims to examine the value and risk factors of upcycling products from previous literature and clarify the effect of these ambivalent characteristics on purchase intention. This provides direction regarding factors upcycling companies should focus on. The data were collected via an online experiment with women in their 20s and 30s residing in South Korea, nationwide. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 21.0 and AMOS 18.0. Analysis of this data suggests that environmental, design, and self-expression value positively affect purchase intention. This extends previous upcycling literature by identifying design and self-expression value as important antecedents of purchase intention. However, in contrast to previous literature, no significant effect of performance or diversity risk was found. These results indicate that ethical attitude has a moderating effect on the relationship between environmental value and purchase intention. This study confirms that consumers intend to purchase upcycling products when they possess not only environmental value but also design and self-expression value.