• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.34
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• pp.37-56
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• 1997

The Korean Apparel industry has played an significant role for the econom-ic development in Korea which is mainaly due to the apparel exports to the world market. However the Koran apparel industry has confronted drastic changes in domestic and also in international market for the last several years. Korean apparel products have lost price competitiveness in international market because domestic labor costs have increased so fast and al-so newcomers such as China or other Asian countries have emerged as compet-itive producers. Furthermore domestic market has been saturated with the Korean apparel manufacturers and also with the foreign retailers. Therefore the Korean apparel industry should establish market-ing strategies in order to regain competitiveness. This study aims to analyze the factors for non-price competitiveness of Korean apparel industry and propose the way to regain competitiveness form the buyers' point of view. The present study utilize the survey data for the internet database which is established by the Cotton Incorporated. The results show that the Korean apparel industry is not competitive in terms of non-price factors such as minimum orders terms of payment preproduction stage use of new technolo-gy and lead times. These factors are not directly related to the price of product which is suggested to the buyers. However these are flexibility factors which play important roles in decision making process of buyers because they can reduce risks in uncertain business environment. Therefore the Korean apparel industry should establish global marketing strate-gies which can enhance non-price competitiveness as well as price competitiveness.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.512-522
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze IT infrastructure of Korean apparel industry in order to enhance business effectiveness and customer's satisfaction in information society with global networks. For this study, the questionnaires were distributed to 57 apparel industries in Korea. The data were analyzed by factor analysis, descriptive statistics, Cronbach's alpha coefficient, multi regression analysis. The results of this study are as follow: First, Considering the apparel industry, construction of information system is essential for assistance of information policy and utilization of information. Understanding of e-business policy affects profits of suppliers. Second, Apparel industry with higher information policy has higher productivity with flexibility. Third, Apparel industry which has close relationship with suppliers has better customer support. Flexible scheduling and production line are important factors for quick response of customer's order and need.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.462-473
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• 2008

In recent years, Korea's apparel exports to the USA have faced a great threat, as the trade environment around the world has changed continually. The purpose of this study is to analyze the competitive position of Korean apparel exports to the USA, and to enhance export competitiveness by applying to offshore sourcing. The trade data of the Office of Textiles and Apparel(OTEXA) in the U.S. Department of Commerce were selected for inquiry about export competitiveness of apparel products made in Korea. In addition, we targeted members of the Korea Apparel Industry Association among the 500 exporters of clothing items in "The Import and Export Textile Product 2003." A total 70 sheets were analyzed. The results of this study were as follows: 1) Korean apparel exports to USA have decreased by 20-35 percent per year since 2005 under the Free Trade Area, showing that Korean apparel industries have not adapted to the new trade environment. Although Korean apparel exports to USA have indicated a trade surplus from now on, Korean apparel industries should find new ways to overcome this situation, diminishing exports and increasing imports. 2) Korean apparel companies selected more offshore sourcing than domestic sourcing. Also, as Korean apparel companies manufactured apparel products offshore, foreign subcontracting outranked manufacturing in their own foreign plants. When they chose foreign countries to source, they turned mainly to China and Vietnam. Also, they considered the target country's manufacturing price, labor stability, apparel products, quality, lead time, and so on. In order to increase apparel exports, Korean apparel industries should focus more on developing competitively new apparel products, improving the ability of sourcing management, and establishing on-the-spot agencies.

• Journal of the Korea Fashion and Costume Design Association
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.31-46
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to explore the ways of improving Korean apparel firms' competitiveness by examining the Korea's number one trading partner U.S. apparel industry. Especially, the Los Angeles area apparel industry which is the second largest and the primary market center on the west coast was analysed. The following strategies are suggested to Korean apparel firms to function more effectively in incleasingly competitive U.S. markets: l)Basics can be produced in lower wage countries meanwhile quick turnaround and high quality works can be produced either in Korea or U.S. 2)Manufacturers might try to have direct relationship with powerful retailers who have their own private labels of store-brand lines. 3)Apparel companies can open market showrooms in the California Market Center. For small firms they can contact with independent representatives who receive commissions for showing lines for manufacturers or rent space for showing the lines during market weeks. 4)Apparel firms can contact buying offices to introduce their products to retail buyers. 5)Korean firms can contact Korean-American apparel firms to gain easy access to U.S.Market.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.384-404
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• 2019

This study investigates the multidimensional structure of apparel design evaluation criteria and the details of each criterion by exploring how female college students majoring in apparel design in their 20s evaluate apparel design based on an exploratory approach. Data were analyzed through a categorization method of qualitative data after collecting from a literature review and three focus group interviews. The results identified the six evaluation criteria of apparel design (functional usefulness, convenience, aesthetics, psychological self suitability, social activity usefulness, and fashion trend). Functional usefulness and convenience assessed the extent to which primary features of apparel are reflected in apparel design, and aesthetics evaluated the aesthetic beauty of apparel design. Psychological self suitability estimated the extent to which apparel design expressed psychological self properly, and social activity usefulness appraised the extent to which apparel design contributed to the social activities of wearers. Last, fashion trend assessed the extent to which apparel design reflected fashion trend. The study results provide meaningful implications towards an apparel industry that wants to develop apparel design that appeals to consumers, educational institutions that aim to cultivate well-trained professionals in the apparel industry, and consumers who want to purchase clothes of satisfactory design.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.30
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• pp.41-58
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• 1996

To purpose of this study is to understand the present situation of the present situation of the fashion careers in apparel industry and to present a activation information for development of a specialty de-partment. This study has been proceeded with the library survey method, and 20 apparel enterprises have been researched with the questionaire and inter-view method. These were large and medium sized enterprises. The results were as follows: 1. Subdivision of fashion careers have been found insufficient on apparel enterprises in Korea. 2. Textile specialists have been needed on apparel enterprises in Korea. 3. Domestic enterprises have dropt out man-agement 4. These enterprises are negative for the consumer research and fashion information col-lection. 5. Fashion sepecialists have been found insuf-ficient on retail division, The propositions for activation of fashion careers are as follows: 1. Fashion careers should subdivide and specialize. 2. The apparel enterprises should employ textile designer. 3. The apparel enterprises should activate practical department. 4. The apparel enterprises should research consumer and collect fashion information. 5. The apparel enterprises should develop fashion specialists on retail division.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.330-338
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• 1989

The Korean apparel manufacturing industry started to meet domestic demands which had depended on importation in 1950s, growing into one of the export-oriented industries with several Five-Year Economic Development Plans. In spite of the development, inefficient organization of distribution of apparel manufacturing industry which connects production with consumption impedes further development of the industry. This study aims at suggesting desirable distribution system of ladies' apparel, the core of the fashion industry. This researcher interviewed those who are concerned in twenty-eight ladies' apparel manufacturing compaines, analyzing the current state of distribution in the industry and the problems. The results are as follows; 1. Forty-five percent of ladies' apparel is distributed through department stores. Therefore, the department stores need to assume their roles in sales and try to improve the condition and to train professional buyers. 2. The sales network is concentrated on the five biggest cities such as Seoul, Pusan, Taegu, Taechon, and Kwangju, prompting the need to be diversified. 3, Tke existing distribution forms distribution systems have many irrational factors which are aggravnting the rate of goods in stock. 4. The manufacturing companies do not implement studies on distribution. The companies should try to establish clear concepts on production and distribution on their own for better planning skills. 5. Computerized systems need to manage the procedures ranging from ordering, distribution, sales to inventory.

• IE interfaces
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2007

As the logistics management becomes more important with the enormous amount of competition at every level of apparel retailing, the Korean apparel companies are expanding logistics outsourcing for providing to consumers better service. This paper studied about apparel logistics service quality, focusing on the transport part. The results of this study showed that the apparel companies evaluated highly their logistics outsourcing service quality that provided from the logistics companies. The logistics companies were providing high quality logistics service to the apparel companies with relatively advanced service infrastructures such as transportation management system and logistics network, as well as improved service abilities such as exact transport and relationship management. Also, it was identified that the satisfaction with apparel transport service quality gave positive influence on recontract intention toward the logistics companies.

• IE interfaces
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 2008

As apparel manufacturers have increased their outsourcing garment making to cope with the rapid changing market, the information sharing has been the most important factor for the Korean apparel industry. The purpose of this research was to identify the properties and effects of information sharing system between Korean apparel manufactures and contractors. For this study, two apparel manufactures which actually used the information sharing systems were case-studied for the properties and effects of the information sharing system. The results of this study are shown as follows; 1) The companies ("J" and "S"), studied in this paper used sharing information mostly on order, delivery, and accounts within their contractors based on information sharing system. Company "J" turned out to have strong partnership with their contractors and developed more flexible manufacturing system and QR strategy. They shared not only basic transaction information but also quality inspection information and work-in-process information by using information sharing system. 2) The effects of information sharing system were proved as business transaction time reduced more than 60 percent, compared when staffs had to face to face, or use phone or fax to deliver documents. This study was investigated to provide an example which introduces information sharing system objectively and systematically to the apparel industry.