Anna Perry

Understand attitude-behavior gaps and benefit-behavior connections in Eco-Apparel

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand Eco-Apparel consumption behavior in consumers who care about the environment. Design/methodology/approach – A snowball sampling technique was used to recruit 16 participants for in-depth interviews. Findings – Two attitude-behavior gaps existed: the gap between environmental attitude and Eco-Apparel purchasing behavior; and the gap between Eco-Apparel attitude and Eco-Apparel purchasing behavior. There were two connections: product and emotional benefits leaded to Eco-Apparel purchasing behavior; and personal cost benefits, emotional benefits, and economic considerations leaded to Eco-Apparel using and disposing behavior. These gaps and connections suggested participants have certain standards regarding Eco-Apparel consumption. First, the standard of purchasing Eco-Apparel was the same as regular apparel. Second, participants did not want to expend much effort. Third, for some participants, emotional benefits (e.g. fun, good feeling, satisfaction) were ...

Satisfaction with current martial arts’ uniforms and purchase intention of new uniforms

The purpose of the present study is to investigate martial arts practitioners’ satisfaction with their current uniforms and purchase intention of new uniforms. A total of 588 martial arts practitioners were recruited via Amazon Mechanical Turk, including 401 men and 187 women. The results indicated that martial art practitioners were satisfied with their current uniforms when three functional attributes were good: quality, fit, and comfort. The aesthetic variable, fashion, only moderately influenced satisfaction with the current uniforms. However, when purchasing new uniforms, both functional and aesthetic attributes were essential factors. In addition, benefits of martial arts and protection from injury were two necessary conditions for commitment to martial arts. However, neither commitment to martial arts or satisfaction with the current uniform contributed to purchase intention of new uniforms. The purchase intention was only related to the characteristics of the new uniforms: whether the new uniforms can enhance practitioners’ functional performance and aesthetic appearance. The present study, for the first time, revealed marital arts practitioners’ strong desire of protection: protection strongly contributed to expected performance, expected appearance, and commitment to martial arts.

Consumers’ purchase intention of 3D-printed apparel

Abstract The purpose of the current study is to address how perceived product characteristics (e.g. compatibility, aesthetics), consumers’ confidence (e.g. self-efficacy) and attitude, and social influence (e.g. subjective norm) influence purchase intention of 3D-printed apparel. A total of 1002 US participants were recruited. The results indicated that purchase intention was mostly determined by a favorable attitude, moderately determined by a characteristic of the product (compatibility), and limitedly determined by the social influence (subjective norm). In addition, a positive attitude was largely determined by aesthetics and compatibility of 3D-printed apparel, moderately determined by self-efficacy, and limitedly contributed by social influences. Therefore, as an innovative product that has not yet been widely spread in the market, consumers’ attitudes toward 3D-printed apparel were mostly determined by the product itself: whether it is aesthetically pleasing, and whether it is suitable for consumers’ lifestyle and needs. Consumers’ confidence in using the product moderately and social influences limitedly contributed to a favorable attitude. This study filled a research gap about consumers’ purchase intentions of 3D-printed apparel. This study also provided important insights for the apparel industry to effectively create and promote 3D-printed apparel in future.

3D-printed apparel and 3D-printer: exploring advantages, concerns, and purchases

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to examine consumer perceptions of 3D-printed apparel and 3D-printers, in terms of (1) advantages, (2) concerns, and (3) purchasing. Thirteen respondents participated in the structured in-depth interviews. A phenomenological interpretation method was used to analyse the data. The results indicated that for 3D-printed apparel, participants were more interested in accessories than clothing; unlike previous studies’ proposals, 3D-printed apparel may be not sustainable and cheap; and the advantages (e.g. customisation and fit) were not the main reasons for buying, but the concerns (e.g. not comfortable and not ease of movement) were the dominant reasons for not buying. For 3D-printers, consumers mostly perceived advantages. The advantages (e.g. convenient, fast, and good for consumer, small business, and co-design) influenced their purchase intentions.

Factors comprehensively influencing acceptance of 3D-printed apparel

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to incorporate an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) and examine how various factors comprehensively influence and determine consumers’ perceptions, attitude, and usage intention of 3D-printed apparel. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was designed using established measures and 1,002 participants were recruited. Findings All external variables were related. Beyond indirect influences, tech optimism still moderately influenced ease of use, but weakly influenced attitude; aesthetics still strongly influenced usefulness and attitude, but weakly influenced usage intention; performance still strongly influenced ease of use, usefulness, and attitude. In addition, only indirect influences came from tech optimism to usefulness and usage intention, aesthetics to ease of use, and performance to usage intention. The TAM relationships were mostly confirmed, except ease of use to usefulness. Usage intention was mostly determined by attitude, which was largely influenced by design, performance, and usefulness, and limitedly contributed by aesthetics and usefulness. Research limitations/implications Participants’ response might be influenced by the provided materials of 3D-printed apparel. Practical implications The present study explicitly showed a complete picture about all possible influences among factors. Business managers can make strategies to meet consumers’ needs based on the current study without worrying about overlooking any possible effects. Originality/value The current study, for the first time, examined: consumers’ adoption intention of 3D-printed apparel, the relationships among external variables, and how external factors comprehensively influenced consumers’ perceptions, attitude, and usage intention.

Explore consumer needs and design purposes of smart clothing from designers’ perspectives

ABSTRACT From both users’ and creators’ perspectives, this study examined: (1) designer-users’ needs of smart clothing, (2) designer-identified consumer needs, (3) design purposes, and (4) the relationships among needs and design purposes. Fifteen participants were interviewed. Results indicated, first, users were most interested in affordable, fashionable, and enjoyable smart clothing. Second, designers believed the most important consumer needs were function, no technical problems, and affordability. Third, design purposes focused on function and solving technical problems. Fourth, two gaps existed: designers did not fully understand all consumer needs; although designers understood some needs, their design purposes did not always meet these needs. By investigating consumer needs from users who had purchasing experiences, this study provides a unique contribution to the scholarly literature. Findings identified gaps among user needs, designer-identified consumer needs, and design purposes, which will help industry and academia to develop more useful smart clothing.

Exploring from creators’ perspectives issues and solutions about knowledge, difficulties, and disposal in making smart clothing designs

ABSTRACT This study, from smart clothing creators’ perspectives, empirically investigated issues and solutions about knowledge, difficulties, and disposal in making smart clothing designs. Fifteen creators participated in in-depth interviews. The results indicated that even though participants’ educational backgrounds related to smart clothing development, none of the creators had all the necessary knowledge to make smart clothing. To overcome missing knowledge issues, participants have tried various methods: sharing knowledge, self-teaching, learning from existing smart clothing, and working in a team. However, they still meet a lot of difficulties. In addition, lack of knowledge led to limited concerns and solutions for disposal issues. Therefore, a need to cultivate smart clothing creators’ knowledge was suggested: educational programmes should be tailored as multidisciplinary courses, including but not limited to material/fibre science, electronic engineering, computer science, apparel design, functional apparel, and eco-design. The findings in this study would contribute to smart clothing development.

Erratum to: Satisfaction with current martial arts’ uniforms and purchase intention of new uniforms

Introduction Martial arts refers to various systems of training for combat, including Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Judo, Jujitsu, Tai Chi, Aikido, Hapkido, Muay Thai, Mixed Martial Arts, etc. (Rousseau 2015). The martial arts industry has grown tremendously (Ko 2003). The total revenue of the martial arts studio industry in the world was

Factors that influence consumers’ purchase intention of smart closets

3 billion in 2014, and the average annual growth rate was 1.2% from 2009 to 2014 (Diment 2014). As the number of people involved in martial arts increases, the demand for martial arts uniforms increases. Although martial arts clothing has been a high growth product, academic research has focused little on it. Previous research conducted on martial arts mostly emphasized how to prevent injury (Kochhar et al. 2005) and few patents therefore focused on developing protective devices (Chi et al. 2004). No study has examined martial arts practitioners’ clothing needs, whether, practitioners are satisfied with their current uniforms and what types of uniforms they prefer to purchase are unclear. Therefore, Abstract

Flowers on a pond

ABSTRACT The current study incorporated the theory of planned behaviour to examine how various factors influence consumers’ purchase intention of smart closets. An online survey was conducted with 433 participants. The findings indicated that aesthetics was insignificant, function was important, while the key determinant of purchase intention was compatibility via attitude and social influence. To create a positive attitude, function and compatibility should be improved. To enhance social influence, compatibility and technology rapidly changing played key roles. Consumers’ confidence in using smart closets was increased as performance was higher, while it decreased as technology was rapidly moving. The current study, for the first time, indicated that fear of obsolescence is not always an unfavourable condition. Although rapidly changing technology impeded self-confidence in using smart closets, it also increased social influence, which in turn enhanced purchase intention.