Eundeok Kim

The U.S. apparel industry: Futuring with undergraduate students in apparel majors

The purpose of the study was to identify what prospective professionals in the apparel industry believe the future holds for the industry in the next 10 to 20 years. Essays were collected from 30 apparel design and 48 retail merchandising majors. Participants predicted that technological developments would be the prominent force for changes across all levels of the future apparel industry. They forecasted the continued development of specialized fibers or fabrics for specific functions and apparel styles emphasizing function, practicality, comfort, and individuality. Total automation and a wide adoption of mass customization were predicted for production. Consumers were expected to use only the Internet or brick-and-mortar stores in conjunction with the Internet. Based on their predictions, the authors provide a glimpse into the possible future of the apparel industry and suggest directions for further research.

Fashion in Context: Apparel Styles Worn by Young Women in the United States and South Korea in the 1970s

The purposes of our study were to examine and compare the styles adopted by young women in the United States and South Korea in the 1970s and to interpret the reasons for the similarities and differences within the historical and cultural context. Fifteen women from each culture who were college students in the 1970s were interviewed. Respondents from both cultures reported that relatively casual and comfortable styles were prevalent, reflecting womens changing roles. U.S. apparel styles, however, were more casual and comfortable, whereas Korean styles remained relatively feminine and formal. In the United States, individualism and masculinity were dominant cultural values that influenced styles and behaviors concerning dress. Koreans held onto collectivism and femininity, yet underwent the process of melding traditional and newly adopted values due to Western influences. This study furthers understanding of U.S. and Korean social changes through dress during the 1970s and the dynamic interplay of fashion1 and value changes.

Forecasting the US fashion industry with industry professionals – part 1

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate the opinions of professionals working in various levels of the fashion industry on the future (i.e. the next ten to 20 years) of the industry.Design/methodology/approach – This is a two‐part study, with this part focusing on the future materials of fashion and on fashion design. The second part focuses on the future of fashion production and retailing. Data in the form of essays were collected from 62 professionals. The constant comparative method and open coding were used in analysis of the data.Findings – Technological advancements were predicted as a major force for changes. Participants predicted the continued development of specialized fibers or fabrics for specific functions. Participants also predicted that future apparel styles would emphasize individuality, comfort, casualness, unisex, and ethnicity. Design and product development processes would be heavily dependent on digital technology; as a result, the role of technical design would grow in importance. ...

Identifying Antecedents of Risky Appearance Management Behaviors: The United States and South Korea

Acts of appearance management include a range of activities to control the presentation of the body that one makes to self and to others. Appearance management behaviors (AMBs) can be divided into two categories: risky and non-risky. Risky AMBs can all be linked to some threat to health if engaged in for extended periods of time. We investigated body-related variables predicting engagement in three specific categories (i.e., cosmetic procedures, extreme dieting, use of diet aids) of risky AMBs with female undergraduates from the U.S. (n = 349) and from South Korea (n = 338). The predictor variables were objectified body consciousness (OBC) and body image investment (BII). Mediating variables investigated were body comparison (BC) and body satisfaction (BS). Across all risky AMBs investigated and with participants from both countries, as BC increased, BS decreased. Similarly, OBC and BII significantly predicted BC for both groups of women. For Korean women, OBC predicted engagement in cosmetic procedure and extreme dieting through BC. For U.S. women, OBC and BII predicted extreme dieting and use of diet pills through BS. Further, there was a difference between the two countries in terms of the specific risky AMBs engaged in. Korean participants engaged in cosmetic procedures followed by extreme dieting. U.S. participants engaged in the use of diet aids followed by extreme dieting.

Forecasting the US fashion industry with industry professionals - part 2: Production and retailing

Purpose – This paper, with part 1, aims to investigate the opinions of professionals working in the fashion industry on the future (i.e. next ten to 20 years) of fashion production and retailing.Design/methodology/approach – Data in the form of essays were collected from 62 professionals. The constant comparative method and open coding were used in analysis of the data.Findings – Advances in technology were identified as a driving force behind changes in fashion production and retailing. The total automation and wide adoption of mass customization were foreseen, along with continuous improvement to information technology. Some participants predicted that most production would continue to be sourced offshore. Others believed that apparel production would remain and even grow within the USA. To counter global competition, several strategies were identified. While online shopping was predicted to increase, brick and mortar stores would remain. Through the combination of different types of stores, new types o...

U.S. Fashion Trends in the 1980s : Postmodern and Modern Styles of Dressing of Female College Students

The purposes of this study were to document the fashions adopted by young women in the United States in the 1980s and to explore if and how the dynamic shifts toward postmodernist values influenced those fashion trends. Fifteen U.S. women who were college students in the 1980s were interviewed for the study. In analysis of the data, we focused on social changes during the 1980s and the cultural impact of postmodernism vs. modernism as influential factors. Both postmodern and feminist ideas challenged the mainstream cultural framework of capitalism. U.S. women`s styles and behaviors concerning dress reflected characteristics of postmodern consumption patterns, which include nostalgia, ethnic dress, androgyny, eclectic and novel clothing combinations, surprising or humorous appearance, and nonconformity. Despite the critique of conformity and conservatism in dress that had emerged in the 1960s and remained in at least minority or subversive trends, the importance of brand names and designer labels increased in mainstream fashion. This study helps us better understand the dynamics of fashion as it reflects societal and value changes in a transitional time in history.