• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2024

Virtual influencers, who are emerging as new players in digital marketing, impact consumers' purchase intentions. They promote positive perceptions and mimetic consumption of specific brands or products through interactions with followers. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effect of the characteristics of virtual influencers on the purchase intention for fashion products through the consumers' mimetic desire. As characteristics of virtual influencers, five factors were set: reality, attractiveness, professionalism, trustworthiness, and curiosity. Data for analysis were collected through an online questionnaire from the 8th to the 15th of August 2023, and 268 data points in total were analyzed using SPSS and Process Macro 4.3. The results of the study showed that the characteristics of virtual influencers all positively affected mimetic desire and purchase intention for fashion products. Moreover, it was found that mimetic desire has a mediating effect between the five characteristics of virtual influencers and the purchase intention for fashion products. Mimetic desire fully mediates the relationship between reality and the intention to purchase fashion products, and partially mediates the relationship between attractiveness, professionalism, trustworthiness, and curiosity and the purchase intention for fashion products. These findings further enhance the understanding of the relationship between virtual influencers and consumer behavior and identify the relationship between virtual influencers, mimetic desire, and fashion product purchase intentions. Consequently, leveraging virtual influencers strategically in digital marketing, the fashion industry can amplify positive brand perceptions, drive consumer engagement, and ultimately foster increased purchase intent.

• The Journal of Information Systems
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.1-20
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• 2021

Purpose Nowadays, Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) is rapidly growing in popularity and increasingly appearing in marketing. Not even in TV commercial advertisement, ASMR also fast growing in one-person media communication, many brands and social media influencers used ASMR for their marketing contents. The purpose of this study is to measure consumers' perceptions about the products in ASMR marketing content and compare the differences in communication effect of ASMR content creator between product review and how-to in the same Macro tier influencer - the YouTuber that has 10,000-100,000 subscribers. Design/methodology/approach The research methods selected ASMRtist that do product review content and how-to content, Text comments data was collected from 200 videos of tech-device review videos and beauty-fashion videos. A total of 52,833 text comments were analyzed by applying the LDA topic modeling algorithm and social network analysis. Findings Through the result, we can know that ASMR is good at taking attention of viewers with ASMR triggers. In the Tech device reviews field, ASMR viewers also focus on the product like product's performance and purchase. However, there are many topics related to reaction of ASMR sound, trigger, relaxation. In the Beauty-fashion field, viewers' topics mainly focus on the reaction of the ASMR trigger, response to ASMRtist and other topics are talking about makeup - fashion, product, purchase. From LDA result, many ASMR viewers comment that they feel more comfortable when watching the marketing content that uses ASMR. This result has shown that ASMR marketing contents have a good performance in terms of user watching experience, so applying ASMR can take more consumer intention. And the result of social network analysis showed that product review ASMRtist have a higher communication effectiveness than how-to ASMRtist in the same tier. As an influencer marketing strategy, this study provides information to establish an efficient advertising strategy by using influencers that create ASMR content.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.805-826
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• 2022

This study explored the process by which consumers purchase products from small fashion business owners via online and mobile channels. In addition, group types were classified given that the purchasing process depends on the consumers' life cycle. The consumer focus group interview (FGI) was conducted on 18 participants that were divided into six groups by age, work, and children. Results revealed that first, consumer journey comprised four stages. Factors influencing need recognition were "attention to information of social media influencer," "attention to information of affiliated groups," and "repeated advertising of SME products/brands." For information searching, "exploring purchase reviews," "environment for mobile shopping information exploration," and "continuous product tracking" were important factors. Purchasing and shopping stages were affected by "price-free, improvised purchase decision" and "convenient mobile payment system and point benefits." After the purchase, "active sharing and repeated purchase when satisfied" and "blocking relationships when dissatisfied" occurred. Second, six consumer groups based on the fashion life cycle are the "Platform lover," "Influencer follower," "Trust builder," "Novelty seeker," "Convenience seeker," and "New designer supporter." Ultimately, small business owners can develop the process of planning and selling fashion products more efficiently.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.217-232
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• 2021

This study analyzed the characteristics of generation Z leading the trend of the fashion industry through the creative activity of Virgil Abloh. A literature review and case study were conducted together with detailing the research methodology. As a result of research, generation Z is conceptualized as a "digital native" who grows in digital technology environment with excellent visual sense. They are "SNS creators" who have influence on Social Networking Services (SNS). They are also characterized as "social activists" who reject social conventions and prejudices. They are a "leading creators" who seek to differentiate with creativity. The characteristics of generation Z in the creative activities of Virgil Abloh have a feature of digital native in that they seek visual originality. In terms of communicating with generation Z through SNS and influencer marketing, it has the characteristics of SNS creators. It expresses social activists in providing consumers with diversity, and social perceptions of differentiation. In terms of providing content that encourages consumers to express their personality, it has a feature of leading creators. It is meaningful in that it contributes to the understanding of the market change and marketing strategy according to the consumer development and the activity of the fashion designer.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.90-107
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• 2021

This study concludes that communication based on interaction between broadcasting hosts and consumers is differently characterized by fashion live commerce types. Subcategories of the types of fashion live commerce were created and used in the analyses of domestic consumer awareness. Three subcategories were created: The department store type, Designer brand type, and Influencer host type. Comments representing consumers' awareness that appear immediately during real-time broadcasting were collected and used for the analyses. The frequency and TF-IDF-based top keywords were selected to analyze the semantic network and CONCOR, and the top keywords were analyzed by deriving the values of degree of centrality. The analysis identified that a group of product attributes and a group of live commerce offered value were common between the three types. As for the group characteristics classified by type, for the department store types, brand attributes, benefits, and values from pursuing the products were identified. For designer brand types, a group of viewers' responses and inquiries were identified. It is interpreted that the satisfaction value gained from hosts with product expertise has been clustered. Influencer host types have affirmed a group of external product values. A close relationship is formed and it is thought to have led a group of values to trust the external image of the product. This study carries significance in analyzing real-time comment data from consumers using fashion live commerce to empirically reveal the characteristics of each type.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.777-792
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• 2018

As social media has become a part of daily life, new types of online opinion leaders are emerging, and in turn, changes in traditional fashion leaders and leadership are expected. Considering such changes, this study attempted to reexamine fashion leader types and influence characteristics from the perspective of college students as fashion followers. Students were asked to write an essay identifying their fashion leader and how and why they were influenced by him or her. Sixty essays entitled "My Fashion Leader" were collected and content-analyzed. A total of 78 fashion leaders were identified and categorized into four types including celebrities, social media influencers, friends/family/acquaintances, and people seen on the street in order of frequency. Influence characteristics of the identified fashion leaders included superiority, role model, similarity, and familiarity. Similarity was observed across all types of fashion leaders, while superiority and familiarity were identified for celebrities and friends/family/acquaintances, respectively. The results imply that celebrities, mostly those from the TV, movie, and music industries, are still important as fashion leaders in society regardless of their communication style, while friends/family/acquaintances as opinion leaders within a consumer group are important to provide information, advice, and help. However, social media influencers between the two groups are expanding the influence.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.65-81
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• 2023

The purpose of this study is to interpret the semantic actions of body image symbolized in body expression images shown by micro-influencers body profiles to understand the body profile phenomenon of the MZ generation. As a result of collecting body profile data from micro-influencers, the body profile image types of female influencers on SNS were classified into four types, Athletic, Slim body, Natural, and, Glamorous. Images representing each type were analyzed using the Roland Barthes' Myth model analysis frame. As a result of the semantic analysis, influencers were found to be very active and bold, emphasizing certain body parts according to the type of body image they pursue. Fashion is strategically used to emphasize these aspects. It was found that the ideology of a 'subjective modern woman' was commonly expressed through emphasis on visual signs. This study is meaningful in that it can indirectly lead to the understanding the fashion culture expressed by the MZ generation and provide consumer information and essential data that can be used for communication strategies in the fashion market.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.446-462
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• 2020

The objectives of this study are to explore the information source, assessment, and preferred styles of 3D virtual influencers(VI), to investigate the expected impact of advertisements with 3D VIs on brands, and to explore ways of expanding the use of 3D VIs. In-depth interviews with 40 males and females in their 20s and 30s were conducted and qualitative data were analyzed. The study results are summarized as follows. First, the information source of the 3D VI was SNS, acquaintances, and broadcasting. Second, 3D VIs were considered positively due to their attractive appearance, wide utilization, innovative use, freshness, separation from private identity, and time and cost savings, while considered negatively due to their unrealistic appearance and antipathy against replacing a person's role. Third, the preferred appearance styles of the 3D VI differed according to the level of virtuality although the majority of interviewees preferred similar looks to real people with low virtuality. Fourth, diverse image qualities such as innovative, differentiated, trendy, high-value, professional, and future-oriented were considered as transferred to the brand advertised by 3D VIs. Fifth, advertisements with 3D VIs may help build positive perceptions of advertised brands that may lead to purchase behaviors for some consumers. Lastly, to expand the use of 3D VIs, the specific advantages of virtual models should be maximized with consideration of how to implement a variety of body types and images of models. Findings present an important foundation to generate strategies to better apply 3D VIs to the fashion market.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.44-56
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• 2021

This study analyzes the fashion video content of vegan YouTubers in order to understand how the vegan message is being conveyed in media. This study collected data with NoxInfluencer and conducted a case study of the vegan fashion YouTube content. We collected 143 videos for analysis as follows. The characteristics of vegan fashion content were divided into six categories. First, fashion know-how consisted of YouTubers' explanation on vegan fashion, from styling to where to buy vegan and fair trade products. Second, fashion haul content showed second hand products as well as certified vegan fashion products. Third, fashion daily life focused on a day in the life of a vegan YouTuber, casually showcasing fashion in real life. Fourth, fashion products reviews were about vegan YouTubers' thoughts and concerns about various vegan fashion brands and products. Fifth, fashion coordination category consisted of Lookbooks according to seasons. Last, the fashion entertainment category showed YouTubers challenging themselves to dress outside of their comfort zone. The content of the message was distinguished by consumption methods and aesthetic interaction. Also, vegan YouTubers were always anticipating the possibility of appealing to a wider demographic. This study differs from existing studies because it analyzed fashion YouTube content in order to understand the spread of a vegan message in the media environment. This study has its significance in suggesting the direction that the vegan community should take in delivering vegan messages in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2023

The digital environment, which has been rapidly developing since the beginning of the 21^st century, has become more specific due to COVID-19, and marketing strategies are rapidly changing to suit purchasing activities of Generation MZ, whose online purchases are becoming the center of their lives. A public relations agency is generally responsible for all aspects of making a client's product or service visible to the public through various forms of media. Among them, a company that performs only fashion-related tasks is called a "fashion PR agency". Now, the fashion industry is also centered on the e-commerce environment, and various digital marketing strategies have been developed and directly related to sales. This study examined the current status of online media and digital marketing, analyzes the aspects of fashion brand promotion strategies and methods in the e-commerce era, focusing on the work of fashion PR agencies, and suggests the direction of new online and offline promotion methods based on marketing and technological aspects. As a result of the study, first, theories on strategies for online media and digital marketing were examined, and found that the amount of online promotion has recently increased and become more specialized. Second, this study examines the concept of fashion PR agencies and analyzed their main tasks through interviews with fashion PR professionals. Third, based on successful online fashion promotion cases, the study analyzed fashion promotion strategies and methods that are being integrated online and offline in the e-commerce era. The main methods included SNS strategy, content strategy, performance strategy, influencer strategy, and event strategy, and it is suggested that integrated management is necessary for consistent brand image management, and an IMC (Integrated Marketing Communication) strategy, which intensively manages all strategies, should be employed.