• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.403-412
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• 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic has a great impact in various ways. It changes the normal routine of lives and businesses. Many businesses encounter tremendous financial pressure, some of them lay off workers or choose to close down. According to the statistics, e-commerce experiences a four-fold growth in sales during the pandemic period. There is an urgency for firms to digitalize their businesses to respond to the change in the landscape of purchasing patterns of consumers. The purpose of this study is to understand the success of a few popular apparel brands in digital businesses. This is a qualitative research, and secondary data is collected for the analysis. The findings reveal that all of them engage in omni-channel methods in digitizing their businesses while utilizing other forms of technologies in their product and operational management. All selected firms agree with the importance of digital business, and omni-channel retailing is their choice. In these unprecedented times, the sustainable success of the apparel firms in digital businesses requires a flexible and innovative approach and a commitment to achieving operational excellence. Continuous renewal and digital transformation are needed so that these companies have the capabilities to adapt to changes and reap the benefits of a satisfactory organizational performance.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.726-736
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• 2015

The apparel industry has recently been recognizing the important target market of middle-aged women. The aim of this study was to examine the anthropometric characteristics of US women of 46 to 65 years of age and identify distinctive body shape characteristics of US middle-aged women. A total of 1915 middle-aged women whose ages ranged from 46 to 65 were selected from the SizeUSA database. The age range was divided into two groups: 46-55 and 56-65. Twenty-four body measurements important for apparel development were chosen. Four factors-Girth Factor, Height Factor, Hip Drop Factor, and Bust Drop Factor-accounted for the US middle-aged women's body measurements. The body shapes were classified into four body shapes, which were Y-Shape in the overweight range, S-Shape in the overweight range, H-Shape in the overweight range, and the A-Shape in obese range. H-Shape, which was the least-defined waist in relation to the bust and hips with a short height, existed more in older middle-aged women than in younger middle-aged women. Y-Shape, S-Shape, and A-Shape existed more in the group of younger middle-aged women than in the group of older middle-aged women. In addition, compared with the younger middle-aged women, older middle-aged women had narrower shoulders, a larger waist, thinner legs, and a longer distance between side neck to bust point. The findings from the current study may be applied in the apparel industry for developing clothing sizing systems for US middle-aged women.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.338-350
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze joint angle for a range of swing motion derived through 3D motion analysis in order to design the ergonomic golf wear, use it for evaluation method of apparel fit to improve exercise functionality and provide the basic materials necessary for designing clothes. In order to do this, the subjects for this study were 3 men of age 20s. The data for a range of motion of golf swing were collected by using equipment for 3D motion analysis and then were used for analysis of joint angles and evaluation method of apparel fit. Range of motion was derived through 3D motion analysis of golf swing motion and joint angles for items of joint motion item and of X, Y, and Z-axis were calculated, respectively. In order to set the evaluation questions for evaluation of apparel fit, to find a range of motion at the maximal value and the minimal value of swing motion. As a result, during the swinging motion, neck extension, right shoulder extension, right/left elbow extension, right/left elbow supination did not appear. Items of joint motion showing the maximum at range of each swing motion were applied into 55 questions and consisted. The results of this study were meaningful as a basic study to apply 3D motion analysis to the fashion industry. It's expected to be used to design functional clothing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.1968-1979
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• 2010

New technology that includes 3D body scanning, digital virtual human, and digital virtual garments has had a significant impact on the current apparel industry. Virtual simulation technology enables the visualization of a 3D virtual garment on a virtual avatar so that consumers can try on garments with their virtual avatars before purchasing. However, the manual virtual avatar provided for online apparel shopping currently has revealed limitations on the different body sizes and shapes of customers. This study analyzes the process of designing the automatic virtual avatar and the manual virtual avatar using OptiTex software; in addition, the study compares the practicality of the automatic virtual avatar with that of the manual virtual avatar. Data was examined by evaluating how much each virtual avatar is similar to the real body and how well it matched the needs of the current apparel industry. In the study, Avatar 1 was automatically created from three-dimensional body scan data and Avatar 2 was manually created from body measurements. The virtual avatar images laid over a real body image and the results were evaluated by comparing the simulated sizes of virtual avatars with those of a real body. Consequently, Avatar 1 was evaluated as more similar to the real body than Avatar 2 in all five body shapes. This study illustrates that an automatic virtual avatar might solve the fit problem that is the most common reason for a high return rate for online shopping. The results show that future virtual simulation technology needs to be improved for the practicality of the virtual avatars.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.23-33
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• 2017

Given the expansion of globalization and international trade, the number of apparel consumers is growing every year, making it difficult to estimate the amount of handling needed from the logistics industry. To determine which management factors are important and which ones require improvement, fuzzy AHP was used. Using this method, the factors were ranked in the final analysis as follows: The first and most important factor was training employees (0.17), while the second was fire hazard management (0.169); the third-highest factor was inbound and outbound goods (0.142), and the fourth was the warehouse management system. Barcode management was ranked fifth. By these results, we were able to analyze the processes of clothing warehouses, noting that although the factors appear independent, they are actually connected while proceeding with full management control. Moreover, because of the special characteristics of garments, employee management is crucial. Due to the vulnerability of these goods to fire hazards, this factor must be well managed.

• Fashion Information and Technology
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• v.9
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• pp.66-72
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• 2012

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.158-175
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to understand and improve the clothing habits and the apparel industry of North Korea in preparation for the reunification of South and North Korea. For this study, literary data, reports, periodicals, interviews and internet data of the two Koreas were reviewed. North Korean clothing habits used to be monotonous and uniform but nowadays people's clothes have become somewhat brighter in color and more diverse in design than before. In particular, liberal and individual dressing habits appeared among the privileged classes. When taking part in national events, women have to wear the traditional Korean costume, Hanbok, while men wear business suits for formal wear. In general, men don't wear Hanbok. Students have to be in uniforms but blue jeans, T-shirts with English logos were popular among them reflecting their sensitivity and openness towards western cultures. The brides usually wear pink Hanboks and the bridegrooms wear black business suits for their wedding. North Koreans also wear Hanbok on national holidays like South Koreans. Clothing is the most important item in the trade of process commission between North and South Korea. Trading items are mid to low end men's clothing for the most part due to less emphasis on fashion in the North. The processing is indirect trade and composed of sample making and contracting, sending out materials and production, carrying in goods and setting accounts. To activate South-North trade, establishment of infrastructure, stabilization of shipping, reducing high costs of distribution, building direct communication system by setting up office in a neutral zone and simplifying procedures in applying for the South and North Korea Economic Cooperation Fund. On the other hand, clothing and textiles education is carried on at art colleges, light industries colleges and commercial colleges in Pyongyang. Clothing institutes which study Hanbok and Western clothes, are installed in each city and province. Graduates who majored in clothing and textiles are posted in institutes or apparel factories. Their job is designing, patternmaking and sewing for their customers. Most of them are women and in good state of economic conditions. The North Korean clothing industry has been the core national industry that has developed based on overseas demand form the mid 1980s. The standard is that of South Korea in the early 1980s. In 1999, trade of North Korean textile products with trade counterparts such as Japan and China was $1.3 million in exports and $1.27 in imports. Of this amount the export takes up 25.4% of the total exports in North Korea. However, fundamentally even in sectors that are irrelevant to politics such as the fashion clothing industry, trust between the South and North should be a prerequisite. Only through this can exchange between North and South and economic cooperation contribute towards the reunification.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to examine consumers' risk perception in internet clothing shopping and its relation with technology readiness and the frequency of purchase. Thereafter, this study examines how consumers' risk perception affect service quality and satisfaction at the apparel shopping sites. An on-line survey was made to collect data, and the replies from 785 people, who had an experience of apparel shopping on line, were used in data analysis. From factor analyses, risk perception comprised 3 factors of product related risk, delivery related risk, and security related risk, and technology readiness comprised 4 factors of optimism, innovativeness, discomfort, and insecurity. Based on cluster analysis, consumers were classified into 3 types in terms of the internet risk perception: low risk group, medium risk group, and high risk group. From path analysis, risk perception was decreased with high frequency of purchase and low discomfort and insecurity of technology readiness, and risk perception and service quality had an influence on consumers' satisfaction with the shopping sites.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.323-334
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• 2020

This study analyzed the effects of consumers' characteristic variables on information search and purchase decisions in a decision-making process that validated the path model in purchasing apparel products. In constructing a structural equation model using AMOS 19.0., the variables including enjoyment pursuit, price pursuit, product involvement and product risk were selected as consumers' characteristic variables affecting the stage of information search. A questionnaire was distributed to consumers over 20 years old who purchased apparel products using offline and online channels within one year; consequently, we were able to analyze 468 effective data. The results were as follows. First, the path model of this research proved to be the appropriate model explaining the effects of consumers' characteristic variables on the stage of purchase decision-making. Second, enjoyment pursuit had a significant positive influence on offline information search; in addition, price pursuit and product risk affected the online information search significantly. Product involvement affected online information search as well as offline information search. Third, the offline information search affected offline purchase and online information search affected online purchase. However, consumer's channel switching behavior between the stage of information search and the stage of purchase decision was not proven. The findings suggest that companies need to develop distribution strategies according to consumers' characteristic factors that effect consumer's purchase decision-making.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.35-45
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• 2013

The purposes of this study were to segment the women's plus-size market by the types of store patronage, profile the segments, and examine the differences in satisfaction with clothing attributes and variety of plus-size apparels according to different segments. The questionnaires included the 7-point likert scales on store patronage, satisfaction, clothing involvement and body cathexis. Five body measurements were recorded by sales people, and the respondents also provided information on their weight, height and garment size in addition to demographic characteristics. Questionnaires were collected from 7 franchise stores in Seoul, Anyang, Daegu, and Cheonan during the months of February, 2011 to April, 2011. 210 questionnaires were distributed and 160 were returned. Excluding incomplete questionnaires, a total of 149 questionnaires were used in the final analysis. The cluster analysis based on store patronage identified four segments- major patrons of specialty stores, multi-channel users, regular store users, and internet shopping mall users. Significant differences were found among the four segments of women's plus-size consumers in terms of clothing involvement, age, occupation, education and clothing expenditures. Internet shopping mall user group were in overall less satisfied with several clothing attributes and variety compared to other groups.