Open Access Publications
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Open access publications by faculty, postdocs, and graduate students in the Department of Fashion and Apparel Studies
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Item The use of clothing as a mood enhancer and its effect on mental health in emerging adults in Canada during a global pandemic(International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings, 2024-01-23) Wenderski, Malgosia; Jung, Jaehee; Wasilewski, JuliaThe advent of the COVID-19 pandemic had disrupted lifestyles and diminished mental health. It was unclear if emerging adults continued their high engagement with clothing during the peaks of the pandemic. The relationship between clothing, mood, and mental health was also unknown. This study surveyed 574 emerging adults in Canada and investigated how the pandemic had affected both clothing engagement and the use of clothing as a mood enhancer, and how this relationship impacted mental health. The study found that greater fear of COVID-19 predicted and positively correlated with fashion involvement and altering mood through clothing. Individuals reported multiple motivations to enhance mood through clothing, including bolstering the self-concept, self-esteem, and comfort. Therefore, clothing facilitated coping among emerging adults in Canada. No relationship was found between mood enhancement and mental health. Future research is encouraged to further explore and clarify the relationship between clothing, mood, and mental health.Item Field to Virtual Fashion: Development and Initial Testing of a Virtual Textile Foundations SIMLab(International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings, 2022-12-31) Beckett, Angela; Cobb, KellyThe purpose of this study is to develop and launch a virtual textile simulation lab focused on cotton fiber and fabric. Virtual simulation labs enable students the opportunity to experiment with cutting-edge technology in an accessible learning environment and carry out experiments otherwise not possible without being in-person.Item Service Design: Developing A Creative Ideation and Low-Tech Rapid Prototyping Toolkit for Multicolores Embroidery Project(International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings, 2022-12-31) Cobb, KellyThe Purpose of this design research was to develop a creative ideation and low tech rapid prototyping toolkit based on artisan-defined needs and criteria. The aim was apply creative expertise responsively, toward the beneficial use and in service to others. Cross-cultural design interventions ideally respect and attempt to encourage artisanal creativity and agency. In this scenario, the design researcher bridges a gap, facilitating artisans in an effort to better compete with the products and practices of modern industrialization.Item Explore U.S. Retailers’ Sourcing Strategies for Clothing Made from Recycled Textile Materials(Sustainability, 2022-12-20) Lu, ShengThis study explored U.S. retailers’ sourcing patterns for clothing made from recycled textile materials. Based on a statistical analysis of over 3000 such clothing items for sale in the U.S. retail market from January 2019 to August 2022 at the Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) level, the study found that U.S. retailers adopted a diverse sourcing base for clothing made from recycled textile materials, covering developed and developing economies worldwide. Additionally, an exporting country’s economic development level and geographic location had statistically significant impacts on U.S. retailers’ sourcing patterns for clothing made from recycled textile materials regarding assortment diversity, product sophistication, market segments, and pricing. The study’s findings revealed the broad supply base for clothing made from recycled textile materials and suggested promising sourcing opportunities for such products. The findings also indicated that sourcing clothing made from recycled textile materials may help U.S. retailers achieve business benefits beyond the positive environmental impacts.Item Explore U.S. retailers’ merchandising strategies for clothing made from recycled textile materials(International Journal of Fashion Design, Technology and Education, 2022-10-09) Botwinick, Ally; Lu, ShengThis study explored U.S. retailers’ unique merchandising strategies for recycled clothing based on a logistic regression analysis of 16,000 Stock keeping Units of apparel items sold in the U.S. retail market from 2018 to 2021. The statistical analysis shows that U.S. retailers adopt distinct product assortment strategies for clothing made from recycled materials in terms of colours, design patterns, and product categories, compared with regular new clothing. Also, U.S. retailers were statistically more likely to price recycled clothing lower than the market average but more likely to target them for the luxury and premium market segments. The study's findings create timely new knowledge about the business aspects of clothing circularity and reveal the necessity of improving recycling technologies and changing consumers’ perceptions of recycled clothing's values.Item Shopping motivations of fashion subscription service consumers(2021-10-29) Bhatt, Dipti; Kim, Hye-Shin; Bhatt, SiddharthRecently, there has been a surge in fashion companies providing a subscription model of shopping whereby consumers can get a curated box of fashion items delivered to them regularly. Despite the popularity, there is a lack of research on this topic. This study employed a qualitative approach to examine the motivations and benefits consumers associate with fashion subscription. Using in-depth interviews, data collected from 14 participants was analyzed to uncover six major themes. These themes arepersonalization via stylist and/or algorithm; adapting to the lifestyle: finding convenience and value; something old, something new, and something different: variety and experimentation; excitement of the surprise: searching for adventure; a gift for me: self-gratification; sharing the experience: shopping with friends and family. Themes uncovered from research with actual fashion subscribers have high external validity. Findings from this research advance our understanding on fashion subscription and provide insights for companies in this industry.Item Sharing personal experiences and online consumer engagement: A case study of Glossier(Journal of Global Fashion Marketing, 2021-09-07) Paintsil, Ashley; Kim, Hye-ShinSocial media has become influential in the fashion and beauty marketplace where digital communication centers around consumer interests in products and brands. This case study examines how sharing of personal experiences on the digital communication platforms of the Glossier beauty brand influences consumer engagement in an online brand community. In-depth interviews of thirteen consumers of the Glossier brand and its social media channels were conducted. The qualitative method allows the researchers to capture the rich context of the consumer experience and the social reality of online community members through their own words. This case study offers insight into how social media communication, moving beyond simple product reviews, allows a direct-to-consumer brand to effectively leverage the personal experiences of their consumers as a catalyst for learning, advocating for the brand, co-developing the brand, and building consumer and brand relationships. A new perspective from Brodie et al.’s consumer engagement model highlights key interrelated processes that evolve from the sharing of consumer experiences and adding value to building a robust brand community.