• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.740-753
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• 2010

This study analyzes the motives of Korean women for choosing breast augmentation in a cultural and relational context; in addition, it investigates their evaluations after surgery. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 10 Korean women in their 20s and 30s who have received cosmetic breast augmentation. Enlarged and made-up breasts are a form of clothing that symbolizes the socio-economic status of women. In the vertical and individualized Korean society, the desire of women for a fashionable body invigorated the appearance management market. Fashion consumers have passively internalized the ideal body trends as the concept of the ideal body-image, which has been constructed by the social structure, markets, and the media. The analysis was rooted in post-modern feminist perspectives on the female body. The ideal body-image internalization process through the social interactions of participants was the main cultural factor to choose breast surgery. The self-image and conformity/individuality of participant were categorized as relational factors for the motivation to undergo breast surgery. The result showed that after surgery the participants achieved positive feedback from their social relationships. They expressed or hid their socio-economic statuses through their purchased fashion bodies. They also showed higher self-esteem and feelings of satisfaction by pursuing individuality and conformity as a member of society. Moreover, they achieved wider fashion options and greater controls over their public/private/secret clothing choices for certain occasions. Cosmetic breast surgery positively empowered individual women while reinforcing the socially manipulated body ideals that oppress women at the same time. Participants internalized socially constructed values and justified their surgery choices.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.39-52
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• 2010

Interests in creating three-dimensionally designed fabric materials are growing rapidly in the sectors of the fashionable textiles with the creativity, new functions, and aesthetics. A number of finishing methods have been developed and proposed to add or create new functions and designs for silk fabrics. Due to the strong hydrogen bonds between the molecules of silk fibroins, the thermal treatment methods used in thermoplastic fiber processing, which can easily deform the synthetic filament fabrics to endow three-dimensional appearance to the fabrics, are not applicable to the silk fabric treatment. In order to modify the fine structure of silk fiber, neutral salt solution treatment methods have been suggested. In this study, the effect of the calcium nitrate solution on the physical and mechanical properties of silk fabrics was investigated by using the KES(Kawabata Evaluation System) equipment. Based on these findings, relationships between parameters, for example, the thickness and the compressional energy, the thickness and the compressional linearity, and the air permeability and the pore area statistical analysis were investigated. The relationships between the process parameters such as treatment temperature/time and the resulting fabric property parameters were also analyzed by using several SAS procedures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.36
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• pp.25-41
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• 1998

The purpose of this research was to study four impulse buying dimensions and planned buying, marketing stimulus factors in store, buying im-pulse and impulse buying of female consumer. The female consumers were divided into three groups, i.e., college students, housewives and workingwomen. 408 women living in Kyung Nam were selected as respondents by convenience sampling methods. The results of this research can be summarized as follows. 1. The overall impulses were stronger for college students and workingwomen than house-wives. The impulse buying dimensions were different according to the status of women. 2. Buying impulse and impulse buying of clothing were more likely to be for college students and working women than housewives. 3. The display in the store gave the information to the three groups equally. These infor-mations helped to make the impulse buying. 4. The marketing stimulus factors were different according to the status of respondents. Sensitive and aesthetic factors were important for college students and workingwomen, and the utility of clothing were important for house-wives. The color of clothing, the discount of regular price and the low price had the same meanings to the three groups. 5. Impulse buying dimensions were effected by the marketing stimulus factors. 6. The fashionable products, the use of credit card, famous brand, gracious display of clothing and the kind services of salesman were the common factors that stimulate the consumer to buy the clothings. But the color and design of products had more effect on the college students, and the discount of regular price and the utility of clothing were more important for the workingwomen. The color and the utility of clothing were stimulus factors for the housewives.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.807-816
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• 2001

The purpose of this research was to compare American Korean consumers perceptions or evaluations of womens formal wear and casual wear. Results revealed that two groups classified differently the products in formal wear, not casual wear. In general, compared to Korean subjects, Americans rated the Korean business formal wear as more fashionable, attractive, stylish and of having higher quality than U.S. formal wear, indicating they were more likely to purchase. On the other hand, compared to U.S. subjects, in general, Koreans rated higher the U.S. casual wear as more liking, purchasing, comfortable, and appealing than Korean casual wear. Regarding clothing image toward each picture, there was a statically difference in both groups. To increase American or Korean exports of apparels, companies must look globally to develop new markets for their products.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.161-173
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• 2005

The Main objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between shopping orientations and Knit wear Buying Behavior of female college students in the U.S. age 18 to 33. The questionnaires for this survey were developed to measure knitwear purchasing behavior, including sources of information about knitwear, evaluative criteria of knit wear product, attributes f store preference for knitwear, and shopping orientation. The questionnaire was administered to 119 female college students in the University of California. The data was analyzed by percentage, frequency, mean, factor analysis, Cluster Analysis and ANOVA, Duncan Multiple Range test. The female college students were classified into five subdivisions by cluster analysis; cautious shopping group, recreational shopping group, self-confident shopping group, shopping indifferent group, price conscious shopping group. In the case of fashion information sources of knit wear, significant differences were found according to shopping orientation subdivision in observation of others' and famous people's clothing, fashion shows, fashion articles in magazines, newspapers, and on the Internet, and shop displays. The evaluation criteria of knit wear product were significantly different depending on shopping orientation subdivision in fashionable, brand and store name, appropriate for different occasion, prestige. The store attributes of knitwear were significantly different depending on shopping orientation subdivision in product knowledge of sales personnel, store atmosphere, display of merchandise, layaway payment plan, price level, ease of parking and access, and new fashion.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.85-109
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• 2023

Laundry has traditionally been regarded as one of the most demanding household chores, but the introduction of smart washing machines is changing this perception. Although smart washing machines have been on the market for several years and consumers' perceptions of washing machines have changed, little is known about consumers' perceptions of smart washing machines. The purpose of this study is to determine what users expect from smart washing machines. We conducted two focus group interviews with sixteen participants who had used smart home appliances to acquire qualitative data. Stimuli created by the interviewees were applied in the focus group interviews to collect more insightful data. We analyzed the data using the three-step method and QSR NVivo. Analysis revealed ten categories of predictive expectations, including seven utilitarian attributes (i.e., smart functionality, smart user interface, reliability, controllability, interactivity, functional value, and economic value) and three hedonic attributes (i.e., fashionable value, psychological value, and social value). The results of this study have implications for the development of smart washing machines that would satisfy consumers by taking user expectations into account.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.41-55
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the trends of product design for textile convergence wearable smart textile fashion products according to college students' fashion life style. In this study, we used information obtained from a questionnaire issued to 201 female college students who were 20 years old for the final analysis. The questionnaires were to classify female college students groups according to the fashion life style, to examine characteristics, needs and wants of each group. The survey on the tendency of wearable smart textiles consisted of 22 items about concept and type of smart clothing product, functional material and intelligent material, recognition, preference, purchase intention, purchase factor and brand preference tendency. A total of 201 samples were analyzed by factor analysis, cluster analysis, ANOVA, crosstabs and $x^2-test$ using SPSS package program. 'brand preference oriented type was found to be interested in 'wearable' smart clothing product with monitoring function of bio-signal' and 'high functional fiber and textile product', but the credibility of 'smart clothes that can be worn and smart textile products to be useful in modern life' was low. 'fashionable individuality oriented' type showed interest in 'smart clothing and smart product', 'intelligent fiber' and 'wearable smart clothing product with monitoring function of bio-signal', but the preferences of 'light emitting fiber products' was low. 'practically purchasing-oriented' type was very interested in 'high-functional fiber and its textile products', but had inadequate knowledge on 'smart clothing and smart textile product' and showed low interest. Despite the fact that 'wearable smart clothing and smart textile products' are expensive, they were willing to purchase considering practicality and sophisticated style.

• International Journal of Costume and Fashion
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.67-79
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• 2010

Cultural sensation by appearance of Elvis Aaron Presley is thought to have been greatly influenced by spread of popular culture beginning to form with the development of mess media in USA that was changed rapidly after the war, changing aspect of popular music in U.S.A through the media development and teenager culture of USA that has rapidly emerged. Elvis intended to change into 'music to be seen' deviating from 'music to be simply listened to' with expressing the conversion of sexual consciousness, defiance to older generation and a sense of value on wealth, and the like, and also suggested a new culture and style to the young people at that time. Flow of Elvis's fashion may be categorized into the classifications such as the fashion in the period. First, Formative period(before 1954) distinguished by pimp look and sideburns with tough image and wild clothes. Second, Establishment period(1954-57) may be categorized into the hot rockabilly style which showed a glittering fashion by brilliant and colorful costumes, the cool rockabilly style which changed him to a fashionable star of modem image(1958-60). Third, re-heyday(after 1968) where a brilliant and bold decoration was displayed. In Elvis fashion, the masculine sensualism, defiance to main value and expression of luxury and consuming culture, etc. are included as a unique aesthetic consciousness. 'Expression of masculine sensualism' represented the sensualism through sexual objectification of men's body by men's sexual ostentation which was prohibited. 'Defiance to main value' means that attempts of non-mainstream image for social class are expressed with an exercise of power by young people through the public. Although the Elvis look has fanned an anti-culture, it was expressed and accepted as having a normally capitalistic appearance. In addition, it being thought of as the standard, symbolizing a success and a wealth through the presentation of image which accepted this material benefit, we may classify this into 'expression of luxury and consuming culture'.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.88-98
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• 2008

In order to improve the problems with obese women's ready-to-wear by age range, this study surveyed the actual clothing purchase and wearing of women in their 20s and 30s with normal and obese body types, and compared and analyzed their satisfaction with ready-to-wear by age and body type. First, for normal body types, both women in their 20s and 30s use department stores the most. Meanwhile, obese women in their 20s make most of their purchases at internet shopping malls, while those in their 30s mostly go to department stores. For criteria for purchasing clothing, normal women both in their 20s and 30s value design most whereas, obese women put size and fit before design regardless of their age. Normal women in their 20s and 30s both were most unsatisfied with standardized design because they could not find designs they wanted. Obese women in their 20s and 30s also showed disapproval of unvaried sizes, indicating a distinct difference in body types and age. As well, the study found that both normal and obese women wear casual style the most, followed by semi-formal style. Also, regarding the images they were seeking when wearing clothing, the normal women wanted to look fashionable, while obese women wanted to look slim, regardless of age. Both body-type groups generally like preferred semi loose-fits the most, followed by tight-fit. They however, dislike relaxed loose-fitting.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.2 s.161
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• pp.300-307
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to identify and to compare the internet service factors affecting shopping satisfaction and intention to return between total shopping sites and fashion specialty sites. Data were obtained from 208 men and women aged between 20-40 who used internet. Factor analysis, Multiple regression, chi square test and F test were applied. The results were as follows. First, there were some demographic differences between two site shoppers. Young, low-income, student consumers were more likely to visit fashion specialty site than older, high-income, non students were. Second, consumer satisfaction and revisit to the total shopping sites were influenced by site composition, purchasing convenience, and after-purchase service. For the fashion specialty sites, consumer satisfaction was affected by site composition and after-purchase service while consumer intention to return was only by site composition. Thus, big sized total shopping sites should provide all kinds of online services to satisfy consumers. Small sized, fashion specially sites had better concentrate on site design or fashionable, creative product merchandising to get a competitive edge for young customers.