• 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.

• 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 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 Clothing and Textiles
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1015-1027
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• 2011

This study analyzes consumer-based apparel design elements and evaluation criteria using qualitative research methodology. Apparel design is one of the most important factors to determine consumer consumption and attitude; however, limited studies have examined them. This study provides essential cues for an apparel industry suffering from dramatically fluid market situations. Based on a qualitative analysis of the focus group interviews, researchers establish three categories (basic elements, elements generated by apparel, and elements experienced by consumer) of apparel design elements that are consistent with nine elements (shape, materials, color, pattern, detail, subsidiary materials, overall image & style, fit, and overall balance). The results provide 137 types of conceptualized apparel design evaluation criteria. They developed 56 initial themes, 23 evolved themes, 23 sub categories, and 12 kinds of theme categories with abstract conceptualization. This study explicates the critical role that consumer-based apparel design is the competitive advantage within the apparel industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.958-969
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• 2002

No one doubts that textile and apparel industries have contributed to economic miracles of the export-led growth in Korea. However, by the turning of 1990′s, these sectors have encountered many problems such as decreasing of domestic production and exports mainly due to wage rise and shortage. Therefore, foreign direct investment to the low labor cost countries has been enlarged for a way of improving its competitiveness and increasing exports. However, no intensive study has been made exploring current investments and future directions. This study focuses Vietnam as one of the promising overseas investment countries. The purposes of this study are to analyze current investment status of Korean textiles and apparel firms in Vietnam, to explore merits and problems Vietnam has, and to present useful implications and strategies for Korean textiles and apparel companies. Analysis of current secondary data suggests that Korean apparel industry, rather than textiles industry, have invested more in Vietnam, mostly in southern Ho Chi Minh City. Investments of Korean apparel and textile firms have shown steady increase from 1990 but have turned to a decrease from 1995. Findings suggested that Vietnam has merits for attracting foreign investment since it provides relatively cheap labor and outstanding skillful hands suitable for apparel and textiles industries. In addition, because of EU quota increase and the trade agreement between Vietnam and USA it is likely for firms in Vietnam to increase exports to EU and USA Rapid expansion of domestic apparel market and "Korean trend (Han Rue)" in Vietnam resulted from successful star marketing of Korean firms are another merits Vietnam has to the Korean fm. However, regulations of central government, low efficiency of bureaucratic and stiff administrative process, difficulty of making decision in case of joint venture, lack of social overhead capital, high factory construction costs, weak construction condition, and the excessive competition among investment enterprises have found to be problems. Based on pros and cons of investment to Vietnam, marketing strategies, practical implications and future directions were suggested.

• 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.

• 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.27 no.9_10
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• pp.1081-1092
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the current situation of textiles and apparel firms in the overseas markets and to examine the relationship between firms' characteristic(i.e., sales volume) and international marketing strategies. A random sample of 311 textiles and apparel firms were selected. The survey design method was used to test conceptual framework. Adjusted response rate was 33.4%(n=115). Descriptive analysis (i.e., frequency, percent) and $\chi$$^2$-test were used for data analysis. About the current situation of textiles and apparel firms in the overseas markets, the motivation for international market entry was highly found to expand their operation from domestic to international market, and most firms were found to be involved with OEMs(Original Equipment Manufacturers) as an entry mode for international market. China and US market were the most popular market among Korean textiles and apparel firms. Product differentiation strategy, pricing strategy based on manufacturing cost and buyer's offering price, place strategy using foreign buyers and participating a few international exhibition were frequently used among Korean textiles and apparel firms for international marketing. Among textile firms, sales volume was related to product strategies(product development), price strategy(buyer's offer) and place strategy(channel). Among apparel firms, product strategy(product labeling), price strategy(price satisfaction). The findings of this can be used when Korean textiles and apparel firms do strategic planning and evaluate the international marketing strategies. Also information and results of this study may assist policy makers to develop better ideas and strategies for textiles and apparel industry.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.5 s.164
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• pp.753-764
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• 2007

Apparel goods can be customer-oriented in the extreme and the apparel industry is one of the most customer-centered industries that should maximize customers' satisfaction. Recently, mass customization, a customer-centered system is widely discussed in the apparel industry to provide consumers with new, differentiating, distinctive, yet personalized products. The purpose of this study is to provide useful insights for apparel brands' mass customization(hereafter, MC) implementation by comparing the apparel brands' current status with consumers' expectation. One hundred apparel brands' practitioners and 116 consumers were surveyed in this research. First, we found that, on the basis of the five stages of MC presented by Pine(1993), apparel brands' MC stages were identified. Then, customers' expectation levels were examined according to the five stages. When compared the gap between the customers' expectation level and the apparel brands' implementation, consumers' expectation of MC was significantly higher than the implementation level by apparel brands for the stage 2(customized products creation), the stage 5(modular production). Second, by conducting a factor analysis with the scales measuring the MC activities of the five stages, apparel brands' current MC strategies could be classified as 'mass customized strategy', 'quick response strategy', 'MOT(moment of truth) customized strategy', and 'individualized service strategy.' Apparel brands showed significant differences in mass customized strategy, quickresponse strategy, and MOT customized strategy according to their product characteristics. Finally, consumers' expectation level of MC strategies was significantly different by their characteristics such as shopping orientation.