• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1369-1380
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• 2005

This study suggests a strategy of providing apparel product information from the wearers' perspective on Internet shopping malls, as a way of compensating for the lack of opportunities to try on the actual product. On an actual Internet shopping mall that sells apparel product, the 'trial-experience information' (the experiential information provided by the fit models who tried on the products) was provided for 83 different items from four women's wear brands. The traffic and sales performances (number of visitors, page view, gross sales of goods, conversion rate, and the numbers of customer transactions) of the apparel product websites that contain trial-experience information were compared to the performances of the brand's websites before this information was implemented. The changes in percent contribution of these brands in women's wear category were also noted. The specific results are as follows: First, all the four performance measures as well as the percent contribution of the experiment products in women's wear category increased noticeably throughout the experiment period (11 to $103\%$). Second, when the percent contribution of these brands in women's wear category in terms of traffic and sales performances were compared to the previous year, these measures increased between $497\%\;and\;2851\%$. Third, the amount of customer transactions also increased after the trial-information was provided, yet to a relatively smaller extent $(29.04\%\;to\;55.25\%)$. The findings showed that trial-experience information provided on the Internet shopping malls may reduce customers' risk perception and lead to increased sales of apparel product and improve the site use ratio.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.117-126
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• 2022

This study aims to analyze the sizing information of women's ready-to-wear pants as indicated on online retail websites and to suggest better sizing communication that can assist customers in making successful apparel size selections. We gathered size specifications and size reference information for basic straight pants from 34 online apparel retail websites. Although the Korean standard recommends labeling the body dimension-based sizing code and specification, most websites preferred to use various types of sizing codes. Body measurements were only used by a few websites, and garment dimension descriptions were the most common method to indicate product size. Many websites provided size reference information through customer review boards and fit model images, however, there was insufficient body size information to allow customers to infer the fit of their body type. When using the size guidance tools, the major data input points were stature and weight measurements. However, the waist measurements of pants sizes guided only by stature and weight values revealed inconsistent ease allowance for corresponding body size populations, especially in the overweight group. Based on our findings, we propose a more effective method of communicating the size information of pants online. We expect that this will contribute to the efficiency of online apparel product display and build a better shopping environment that satisfies both sellers and consumers.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.127-138
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• 2015

Due to the virtual nature of online businesses, online apparel stores need to enhance the consumer experience by utilizing store design attributes to provide their customers relevant and sufficient information. Since online apparel stores mainly communicate with their customers virtually and digitally, it is important to understand how consumers perceive and react to different design attributes commonly found on apparel stores' online websites. The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance of design attributes commonly found on online apparel stores' websites using three different importance measurements. The design attributes examined in this study include enlarged pictures, product detail pictures, product reviews by other buyers, coordinating items, and size measurement charts. The three different measurements used in this study include two direct measures and one indirect measure using conjoint analysis. Across the three different measures, both the men and women indicated that enlarged pictures represent the most important design attribute when they purchase clothes online followed by size measurement charts and they considered the availability of coordinating items the least important design attribute.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.73-84
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• 2023

This study aims to identify the current sizing communication issues of menswear on retail websites and to suggest an effective size information presentation method. Based on sales frequency and awareness in the Korean menswear market, 22 brand websites were selected, and size-related information was investigated using 7 types of representative apparel items. The current diverse types of size codes had limitations in delivering actual product size information. Many websites preferred to display garment dimensions rather than basic body measurements, which is the suggested size designation method in Korean Standard. The websites posted fit model photos and customer reviews. However, the body size specifications, which consumers can use as a useful reference, were often omitted. There was also a high uncertainty in product size selection, with only the basic body measurement information listed, and there was a high deviation of garment dimensions within the same basic body measurements. The product size distribution did not match actual Korean body types. Based on the findings, we suggested improved effective sizing communication methods. These methods will contribute to a better online shopping environment for both consumers and retail sellers.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.617-627
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• 2020

This study investigates the apparel sizing communication presented in online retail websites focusing on women's ready-to-wear tailored jackets and to analyze the meaning of these information as the actual product size guide factor. A total of 34 retail websites were selected based on the highest growth fashion companies list and the best fashion brands list. We collected size information in two types: size specifications including sizing code, body measurements, garment measurements, and size references including customized size guide tools, size information in customer reviews, model size information, and others. Most websites prefer to present garment measurements rather than body measurements that are recommended notations under Korean standards and related regulations. In addition, there was the absence of consistency in presenting measurements list and terms that can confuse consumers in size communication. This study found that the stature measurement was a key factor in size reference despite that it did not represent a proper garment size. The obsolete Korean numbering sizing code such as '55 and '66 was still used in many ways such as idiomatic expressions for body shape. It also implied that we can take advantage of the old sizing code for accessible size information. The finding of this study gives an in-depth diagnosis of current online sizing information problems and suggests useful basic data for developing online apparel size standards and marketing strategies.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 2019

The purpose of this study is to examine the compensatory role of instrumental (e.g., product information) and aesthetic (e.g., website background) online cues presented within apparel websites where touch is unavailable. The moderating role of two need for touch (NFT) dimensions (i.e., autotelic and instrumental NFT) between online cues and consumer responses was also investigated. Results demonstrate that personal differences in autotelic and instrumental NFT moderate the relationship between online cues and affective responses. It was found that consumers high in autotelic NFT (i.e., who need to touch for fun) seek more instrumental cues to compensate for lack of touch when shopping apparel products online. Surprisingly, consumers high in instrumental NFT (i.e., who need to touch for product evaluation) use aesthetic as well as instrumental cues to supplement the absence of touch. In contrast, for the low NFT groups, only aesthetic online cues showed significant effects on consumer arousal. Further analysis shows that instrumental NFT is negatively related to purchase intention while autotelic NFT has a positive effect on purchase intention. This implies that need for hedonic-oriented touch is no longer a barrier for online apparel shopping. However, the instrumental NFT seems a significant obstacle for the adoption of online apparel purchasing.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.113-122
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between online apparel impulse buying behavior and apparel website characteristics. The data were collected using an online survey with a structured questionnaire. To recruit participants, online surveys were collected and a total of 236 college students were used in the study. The results of factor analysis showed that website characteristics consisted of two factors (i.e., promotion, product/policy information). The results of MANOVA and multiple regression showed that the impulse purchase group evaluated the website where they bought the last apparel item significantly better in promotion and product/policy information than the non-impulse purchase group. Based on the results, H1, H2, and H3 were supported. The evaluations of the characteristics of websites where impulse purchases and non-impulse purchases of apparel products were made were significantly different.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.13 no.6 s.59
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• pp.934-945
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the content and presentation style of consumer information of Korean young casual apparel brand. To collect the data for this study, the representative 25 casual brand web sites were selected, based on major search engines. In addition, to investigate exact product information, four product categories, knit shirts and casual pants for men and women, were selected and the number of products was limited as maximum 15 products per each category. A coding instrument was developed to capture the consumer information, based on the instrument by Park and Stoel(2002). The Pretest was conducted to gauge inter-coder reliability and the results showed that inter-coder reliability was highly acceptable. The results of this study were as follows. Most casual brand web sites for this study were presented well in brand and customer service information. Especially, many web sites provided various engaging information such as various events(best dresser contest, date with a star, special gift) and useful multimedia file(MP3 music file, screen saver, movie, calender). However, product information was very lack in most web sites. Especially, sizing and fitting information and textile and fabric hand information were rarely provided. Therefore, this result showed that the web sites should provide more specific product information and develop devices to get tactile sensory and experiential information for enhancement of future e-commerce of apparel products.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.71-84
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• 2009

For fit satisfaction evaluation, the subjects were asked to put on the jackets from the seven manufacturers in random order, view how the jackets fit in a full-body mirror and answer questions regarding fitting in 22 specific areas, including the neck, shoulders, waist, hips and arms, as well as eight questions related to maneuverability. The surveys and evaluations were conducted between October 2007 and November 2008, and the compiled data were analyzed using the SPSS 14.0 statistics program. The One-way analysis of variance was performed to comparatively analyze the differences among the products from the seven manufacturers. Post-hoc tests were performed based on Duncan's test for the criteria that displayed significant differences. The results were summarized as follows. Fit evaluations were performed for the size 88 formal jackets from the seven manufacturers. All items, except the center front line, displayed significant differences at p<0.05 or higher among the manufacturers. The age group 20-39 felt that the main problems were in the shoulder, armscye, upper arm, waist, abdomen and hip areas. Modifying the shoulder area, armscye depth and hip areas severely compromises the jacket's balance, and attention to these areas must be given developed pattern design.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 2017

This study explored the current implementation status of corporate social responsibility (CSR) among textiles and apparel manufacturers and retailers in Korea, based on the Triple Bottom Line (TBL). We also investigated the provision of information related to CSR practices on the websites of companies. A quantitative content analysis was conducted to analyze the website disclosures of 61 listed companies categorized in the textiles, apparel, shoes, and luxury industry. Analysis was focused on the presence, accessibility, and the level of CSR website disclosure. Seven themes emerged by applying the constant comparison analysis. Using Scott's formula for pi, a high level of inter-coder reliability was achieved, ranging from 0.91 to 0.97. Regarding the three dimensions of CSR suggested in TBL, economic dimension was relatively more emphasized in the website disclosures of most companies, compared to social and environment dimensions. Website disclosures were further investigated, based on the product categories of each company. Limitations of this study and suggestions for future studies are discussed.