Seoha Min

Exploring an Up-cycling Design Process for Apparel Design Education

Abstract The increased need to consider sustainability in the field of apparel is gaining awareness among designers, producers, marketers, and consumers who are currently considering their next moves in the arena of apparel products, design, and innovation. The paradox of fast fashion and the pursuit of modernity, alongside the need to care for the earth’s resources in a sustainable manner that includes social, economic, and environmental impacts, is a difficult dilemma. Many researchers have been looking at the problem from different perspectives; the focus here is on how we educate our students as soon-to-become design professionals. Up-cycling is one good strategy to protect ecosystems, because the goal of up-cycling is to prevent wasting potentially useful materials by making use of existing ones. In the process of up-cycling garments for sustainability the article considers what impact this has on the apparel design process and how students learn and must learn differently based upon this need. Participants including students and design professionals who undertake a project of up-cycling are surveyed about the differences they perceive in their design process. Results indicate that there are some opportunities that arise that need to be incorporated into our educational system.

Education for apparel sustainability from perspectives of design students from differing cultural contexts

ABSTRACT The focus of this paper is how design students think about sustainable practices and design solutions. A survey distributed to American and Korean design students asked how important sustainability was to them as a user and as a professional in training. How the two groups of students understand sustainability in apparel was considered through their identification of sustainable strategies and practicing of sustainable behaviours. In analysis regarding practices throughout the clothing lifespan, the most significant sustainable factor for American students was ‘purchase’ and for Korean students it was ‘use’. This comparison provides valuable insights regarding how cultural factors shape and influence perspectives on sustainability and how this information pertains to design education.

Differences of Information Management between Fashion Show Video and Fashion Film: Focusing on Cases of Chanel

As media technology is developing, methods to present fashion products and communicate with audiences are also evolving. Designers and fashion brands are always on the lookout for more effective methods to deliver what designers intend through new products. The purpose of this research is to analyze different ways in which people perceive, cognize, and memorize the digital media of fashion show videos and fashion films in the communication process. Considering the difference in communication methods, this study is based on Shannons communication model, Foulgers ecological model of the communication process, and Kopecs information management theory. In this research, Chanels 2010 Cruise collection and fashion film, Remember Now, were used as content stimuli. The results indicate that there are significant differences between fashion shows and fashion films in terms of perception (p < .005), cognition (p < .005), and memorization (p < .005). This research will provide prospective methods for fashion designers and fashion firms to effectively deliver the latest fashion information to their audiences.

Exploring flow in the apparel design process

The phenomenon of flow, as described by Csíkszentmihályi, is considered a positive experience that should be encouraged, but the experience has not been studied in an apparel design process. The participants of the study included 12 students who were taking a senior-level apparel studio class to design their own line of 4–6 ensembles. Each participant was interviewed twice, once during the apparel design process and once following the completed project. Students reported that they were able to experience flow in the process and were often more creative and productive in the flow state. Factors that encouraged or discouraged students’ flow experience varied depending on the type of activities in the process. Since the flow state greatly enhanced students’ satisfaction and created positive responses, the study provides insight for educators in the apparel design field.

How do fashion designers emerge? An empirical investigation of their entrepreneurial processes

ABSTRACT This paper explores the entrepreneurial processes of emerging fashion designers. Four entrepreneurial process models are explored in this paper specifically for their applicability in determining how entrepreneurial fashion designers launch a business that is highly dependent on creative ability. Emerging fashion designers are a unique group who must exhibit both creativity and business acumen. Limited studies have focused on the entrepreneurial processes of fashion designers. Thus, the purpose of this study is to address this gap by exploring the ways in which emerging designers launch fashion design businesses including how personal, environmental and sociological factors may influence their entrepreneurial experience. To achieve the research purpose, a qualitative research design was employed utilising in-depth interviews as the primary data collection method. The study will contribute to the literature on fashion designers’ entrepreneurial processes as well as support for policies and funding initiatives of start-up fashion companies.

Sustainable apparel design strategies regenerated from traditional costumes of the Chosun Dynasty

Purpose This study aims to provide insights to designers for seeking innovative ways to design sustainable clothes and appeal to consumers by enhancing sustainability. Design/methodology/approach To achieve the research purpose, the researchers went through a design process and designed three prototypes. The experts’ evaluation on the prototypes was positive. Findings Various design strategies derived from the Korean traditional costume were explored. Based on the strategies, three prototypes were developed, and the design experts’ evaluation on the prototypes was positive. Originality/value The research has implications as follows. The sustainable design process and methods used in this research for developing designs inspired from cultural costumes will provide insights to designers who want to create sustainable garments inspired by a certain culture. In addition, the design and sustainable design strategies, derived from the Chosun Dynasty, will guide apparel designers to create sustainable designs and broaden their perspectives. Furthermore, the research will provide guidance to following researchers who are interested in the topic of sustainability in apparel design. The researchers explored sustainable design strategies from the Korean culture, applied them in their design process and evaluated the design outcomes. By doing so, merits and limitations of the design strategies were more clearly understood.

The effect of concept congruence on preference for culturally diverse apparel products

ABSTRACT The global market for designer apparel, especially the American market, is attractive to include in Asian designers’ internationalisation strategies. In an effort to identify factors that may impact acceptance of Asian designers’ culturally inspired work in the United States (US), one of the most challenging and largest apparel markets in the world, this study explored the effect of consumers’ perceptions of self- and product-concept congruence on their attitudes and intention to purchase Asian designers’ apparel products. Results suggest that US females whose self-concept is consistent with the product-concept will be likely to have a positive attitude towards that product and, consequently, to intend to purchase that product. Managerial implications suggest that Asian designers entering the American market could target consumers by designing communication efforts to appeal to Americans who share personality characteristics similar to their Asian designs.

Gendered role communication in marketing blue-collar occupational gear and clothing in the United States

Considering the need for gender equity in the workforce, this research explores social construction of gender; how that construction relates to work; and, subsequently, how gender construction influences the design and marketing of work clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) for women working in blue-collar occupations. To explore the phenomenon, a content analysis of products and advertising images in seven websites selling blue-collar work clothes and PPE was used. Collected data suggests work clothing and PPE designed for women is limited in terms of size, design, and number of products available. It was also found that there exists a cultural discomfort with portraying women as competent blue-collar professionals in the advertisement of work clothing. The research provides a discussion of guiding ideas for improvement in the design and marketing of products for women workers in blue-collar occupations. Findings suggest design and marketing images could be improved to better reflect and appeal to women purchasing and using these products.