• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.719-727
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• 2009

The ultimate success of commercial applications of body scan data in the apparel industry will be consumers' substantial applications such as automated custom fit, size prediction, virtual try-on, personal shopper services (Loker, S. et al., 2004). In this study, we surveyed fifty consumers and forty-seven apparel industry workers about their recognition and interest in 3D body scanning and virtual try-on. The results are as follows: 55% of the apparel industry workers has recognized 3D body scanning as a convenient technology, but do not know how to use it. To the questions regarding virtual try-on, 53% of the workers give positive answers. The consumers have a more positive view on virtual try-on than the workers do. The workers predict that the application of 3D body scan technology to the apparel industry could offer customers helpful information in their clothing selection by using virtual images of various size and style, and increase mass production of MTM(Made-To-Measure). The answers from the male consumers in their twenties indicate that virtual try-on is useful by 88% on offline shopping and by 100% on online shopping. 53% of the workers and 68% of the consumers gave answers that just by virtual try-on they could judge the quality of the apparel products and purchase them. Absolutely 3D virtual try-on is an effective tool for online shoppers. 85% of the workers anticipate applications of the 3D body scanning also in 'body measurement', 'custom pattern development' as well as 'virtual try-on' in the near future. With the positive reactions and the stimulating interests in virtual try-on, the conditions of contemporary world encourage more active researches and wide usages of the technology in apparel industry.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.15 no.1 s.66
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• pp.1-12
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to identify the SPA(Specialty store retailer of Private label Apparel) characteristics and product supply process of Korean casual apparel brands. The research was conducted by questionnaire surveys to 63 casual apparel brands. SPA characteristics of each brand were measured with four SPA characteristic indices: short product supply cycle, spacious retail floor, single brand retail store, and low product price compared to the quality of the product. The 63 apparel brands were grouped by SPA index score. The brands belonged to group H had high index score and brands in group L had low index score. The results of this study showed that the most of the casual apparel brands' products were sold at department stores, especially the brands belonged to group L greatly depended on department stores. Few apparel brands have spacious retail floor. The retail product price of the brands belonged to group H was low price while the product price of the brands belonged to group L was in the medium-high price. The supply time of the new products was short in general. The most brands supplied new styles to the retail floor within 1 to 3 weeks. The information technology was heavily used. The brands belonged to group H highly used information technology including bar codes system, pas data analysis, and inventory control system. The current style trends were analyzed with street fashion and feedback from the shop managers.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.21-30
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• 1989

The U.S. response to increased international competition was examined in the present study in order to have more comprehensive understanding of the U.S. textile and clothing market. The method employed to conduct the study was the analysis of the written materials, interview with professionals, and the survey of the actual situations of the U.S. textile and apparel industries. The results are summarized as follows; 1. Official U.S. textile and apparel trade policy has been quite has been quite protective since 1950's. The protective trend has been embodied in Japan Cotton Textile Export Control (reciprocal trade agreement signed by the U.S. and Japan in 1957), Short Term Arrangement Regarding International Trade in Cotton Textiles, Long Term Cotton Textile Arrangement (1962∼1973), and Multi-fiber Arrangement (1974∼). Other governmental programs designed to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. textile and apparel industries include Long-term Textile and Apparel Products Export-expansion Program, and 807 Trade to take labor cost advantage. 2. Along with the quite protective governmental trade policy, the corporate responses have been made such as new sourcing mixes, investment in technology, specialization in the textile and apparel industries, and recent strategies pursued by retailer's. The apparel industry was subject to pressure from imports that increased at moderate levels, and the U.S. textile and apparel industries have made extensive efforts to adjust to the increasing competition from abroad. The textile and apparel industries have taken steps to increase labor productivity through automation, to speed management to create and introduce new products and new methods, and have lowered indirect overhead costs. Several industrywide promotion campaigns have attempted to establish a greater public awareness of international competition and to develop a preference for apparel produced in the United States. 3. Regarding these response of the U.S. and other situations of world textile and apparel trade market, much of the sense of crisis that pervades Korean textile and apparel industries has to do with the problem of adjusting government and corporate policy. Textile and apparel industry of Korea faces on going pressure to reduce costs, improve quality, increase service, develop new markets, diversify, and differentiate itself from its foreign competitors. The strategies that have been adopted in the past have generally worked in the past, but the time has come to adopt strategies that reflect present conditions. If this is not done, then we stand to lose large segments of these industries, which once lost will not easily be regenerated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.751-762
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• 2002

Korean apparel industry is facing critical moment due to shortage of labor, wage increases and intensive competition among domestic manufactures. In addition, international production has been shifting to China and the other low-wage countries from established locations such as Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Global sourcing has been received considerable attention since firms can enhance their competitive advantage as well as comparative advantage by coordinating their sourcing activities global]y. This studs regarded global sourcing as one of the strategic tools to achieve competitive advantage of Korean apparel firms, and explored the current status by literature reviews and series of in-depth interviews with managers of korean apparel firms. The findings of this study were as follows: 1) Due to geographical advantage, China was the most favored nation for outsourcing for domestic markers. However, exporting firms preferred Latin America (including Mexico) to take advantage of duties, quotas and geographical proximity to the US market. 2) In selecting the global sourcing country, productivity, technical ability, local government regulation, and culture were considered important. 3) Most Korean apparel firms sources production globally, and followed by raw materials and trims. 4) Cost and quality were the most important factors in deciding subcontractors, and experience, productivity, equipment and finances were the next concerns. Academic implications and future directions were suggested based on findings.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.320-331
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• 2004

This study was attempted to examine male consumers＇suit purchasing Behavior of subdivided groups according to apparel shopping orientation in men＇s suit purchasing and to suggest basic information applicable to marketing. The sample was taken from 705 men who were aged twenties through forties living in and suburbs. A total of 655 questionnaires were used in the final statistical analysis using factor analysis, reliability test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and X$^2$-test. The results of this study were as follows： 1. The dimensions of apparel shopping orientation were composed of economical, brand/store loyalty, fashion consciousness and convenience shopping orientation. 2. The dimensions of apparel store attributes were composed of atmosphere and service, convenient shopping, fashion and sale promotion, price, quality and reputation. 3. Three groups were classified after group analysis of four factors in male consumers＇apparel shopping orientation： group focusing on convenience (47.2％), group focusing enjoyment of shopping(31.0％), and group focusing economic aspects(21.8％). Additionally differences of the three groups were examined according to importance of store attributes, use of information sources, purchasing Behavior, clothing evaluation criteria and demographic variables.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1396-1405
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• 1997

This study investigated country-of-origin effects by comparatively analyzing consumer attitude toward country-of-origin of imported apparel according to apparel product attributes. Fishbein attitude model was used. The effects of consumer characteristics such as attitude of consumers toward general imported apparel and demorgraphic variables on consumer attitude toward country-of-origin were also identified. Italy, U.S.A, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea were used as country of origin. Data were obtained from male and female subjects(total 570) aged mostly 20's. Statistical analysis showed: 1) Apparel product attributes were classified into 3 factors, expressive, instrumental and brand, which are the order of importance for purchasing. 2) Consumer indicated more favorable attitude toward 'made in 'Italy' nd made in 'Korea' in each attribute factor. 'Made in Korea' roducts were evaluated highest in expressive attribute factor but less favored than 'made in Italy' n brand attribute factor. 'Made in U.S.A and made in Japan' were evaluated favorable in instrumental factor, whereas 'made in Hong Kong' had the least favorable attitude in every attribute factor. 3) The uniqueness and good quality of imported apparel appeared to be the most strong variable in predicting consumer attitude toward each country-of-origin. 4) The attitude toward country of origin was different according to sex and age.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.27 no.9_10
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• pp.1160-1171
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• 2003

This study is intended to examine the current situation and the problems of the "worksheets, regarding various factors that exert influences onto the quality-risk management, which is one of the most significant factors specifying an apparel product. This paper advances according to the following sequences: 1. Literature survey 2. Field research on actual "apparel vendors" and production factories 3. Investigating the requirements relating to the worksheet 4. Developing standard format of the worksheet 5. Effectiveness analysis on the standard worksheet 6. Proposal of an intelligent model applying standard worksheet system. This study is performed with the following research methods; those are questionnaire surveys, statistical analysis, interviews, collecting & analyzing worksheets, product sample quality experiment, functional analysis of the system, and materialization of the prototype system. The significance of this research is that it suggests the possible effective use of worksheet, which reflects the customers' needs in terms of the product quality, at the stage of the product planning process. Despite its importance, the current work structure does not visibly reflect these components. Therefore, with the result of this research, it is considered that the worksheet systems will meet more useful improvements in risk management process. The limitations of this research are as follows. Although it is evident that the standard worksheets bring effective results in quality improvements of products, considerations must be made onto some additional payoffs arising from the additional cost of necessary labor forces with expert knowledge and cost of the effort and time inputting correct information for running the system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1615-1626
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of shopping orientation, and service quality and satisfaction on impulsive buying behavior in two types of apparel store. The sample consisted of 616 females aged 20-30 who were shopping at department stores and shopping malls in Busan. Data were analyzed with factor analysis, t-test, cross analysis and path analysis. The results showed that consumers of department stores showed more strongly convenient orientation than those of the shopping mall, consumers of the shopping mall showed more strongly recreational orientation and practical orientation than those of the department. Stores services of the department were perceived better than that of the shopping mall in promotional services, salespersons' services and environmental services. But it didn't show any differences between store types in product services. Consumers 'satisfaction with the service was greater in department stores than the shopping mall. But it didn't show any difference between apparel store types in the impulsive buying behaviors. Impulsive buying behavior of department store shoppers is directly affected by a shopper' shopping orientation as well as store service quality perceived by shoppers rather than a shopper' satisfaction. The service quality does not have directly related to consumers’ service satisfaction. The causal relationships of impulsive buying behaviors showed similarity in shopping malls and department stores. The perceived quality and satisfaction with store service were higher at department store than shopping malls. In impulse buying behavior of a department store was directly affected by a shopper' shopping orientation as well as store service quality perceived by shoppers rather than a shopper’ store service satisfaction.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.15-30
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• 2010

The objective of this study is to identify the relationship quality and relationship benefit, which has greater explanatory power in predicting fashion consumers' future loyalty. This study is particularly interested in the different explanatory power of each relationship quality with various relationship partners of fashion consumers. The participants were 507 female consumers over 20 years old and they responed questionnaire. The result showed that relationship quality types and relationship benefits having greater explanatory power in predicting consumers' loyal relationship intention varied with multi-loyal relations. Consumers' intention to be loyal to an apparel brand and apparel company was more explained by self attachment than by any other relationship quality types, whereas the intention to be loyal to specific department store was predicted by low involved relationship quality types such as habitual alternative and compensational bind. Trusted intimacy was the only relationship quality type that was significant in predicting consumers' intention to be loyal to salesperson in the future. Among relationship benefits, the influence of convenience benefit was significant in predicting consumers' future loyalty in most relations.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.1-14
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• 2012

To date most of the research concerning e-service quality in the context of online apparel settings has had a female or a generalized for gender and age focus. To expand the scope of understanding of online consumers, this study focuses on the key dimensions of e-service quality which affect male Generation Y consumers' e-satisfaction which in turn may affect their e-loyalty. A convenience sample of male college students was recruited from a Korean university. The findings of this study showed that privacy, personalization, efficiency, and website design were the key dimensions that have significant positive relationships with e-satisfaction. The positive relationship between e-satisfaction and e-loyalty was also confirmed. Managerial implications and suggestions for further research are further discussed.