Considering increasing demand for improved waist protectors for the elderly, in this study we sought to design a waist protector that reflects the body characteristics, preferences, and satisfactions of the elderly. A survey conducted to investigate elderly satisfaction with existing waist protectors, as well as their preferences in product function, design, and characteristics, found that consumers are not satisfied with current waist protector offerings and would prefer protectors that allow greater freedom to perform physical activities and that are more easily accessible. Based on the survey, we developed a guideline on function, design, and characteristics, resulting in four new waist protector designs: A and B for men, and C and D for women. Significant preference differences according to gender were reflected in the designs. For example, designs for female waist protectors focused much more on improving tightness, size, freedom of movement, and easy attachment or detachment than designs for male waist protectors did. Evaluation of satisfaction with new designs suggests that new designs meet the satisfaction criteria of elderly consumers, who express willingness to purchase and use them.

This study sought to typify incontinence symptoms and how women over sixty perceive incontinence panties and pads. The study uses Q methodology to analyze the perception of these products by type. The research utilized Q methodology and the QUANL pc program for analysis. Type 1 was a type of depression and anxiety due to incontinence. Type 1 was a type of thinking that incontinence was hidden from others. Type 2 was a smellsensitive reclusion. Type 2 was most concerned about smell, as people sometimes avoid interpersonal relationships because of urinary incontinence. Type 3 was function-oriented toilet frequently. Type 3 was recognizing that the absorption function of incontinence products is important, as the toilet is frequently used. Type 3 mainly wore underwear among incontinence products and thought that incontinence was not hidden from others. In the case of incontinent women, products that prevent others from feeling the smell of urine were considered important. Future studies should expand on this study's work to analyze practical, currently-existing incontinence products.

As the postsecondary school-age population continues to decline, the competition among universities to attract potential students has intensified. As an alternative, we propose to introduce a collaborative marketing strategy to universities to gain the attention of precollege students and parents. This study examines perceived fit, the prestige of university and fashion brands, consumption values, and the category of fashion brands in the context of collaboration between university identity and fashion brands. Utilizing an online survey, we collected 391 responses. The results indicate that perceived fit between universities and fashion brands has a significant impact on the purchase intention of collaborative university merchandise. In addition, the prestige of fashion brands plays a key role, while the prestige of universities has no direct effect on purchase intention. However, the indirect effect of university prestige on purchase intention mediated by perceived fit is significant. Also, this study confirms that social value and emotional value have significant impacts on purchase intention. These findings present a guideline for selecting a collaborative partner, which is the most important task in a collaboration strategy. Finally, merchandising strategies reflected consumption values based on precollege students and their parents' needs are proposed.

Traditional wedding dresses have had a high market demand in China in recent years. Traditional wedding dresses from the Tang dynasty occupy an important position among traditional Chinese dresses, and they are also favored by young women. This study was conducted to develop the rushan and qun patterns of traditional wedding dress styles from the Tang dynasty for women in their twenties in China. For this purpose, the rushan and qun patterns of Tang and Song dynasty dresses and modern traditional dresses were collected and analyzed. Additionally, the developed patterns were validated for suitability through appearance evaluations of virtual and real fittings. The following proportions of the developed patterns were proposed: H/3.3 for rushan length, H/33 for collar width, H/1.08 for total sleeve length, H/6 for sleeve width, H/8.5 for sleeve hem width, and H/1.55 for qun length. In addition, the developed patterns received high scores in the appearance evaluations of the virtual and real fittings. Therefore, the developed rushan and qun patterns are expected to have high utility in the current traditional wedding dress industry.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the external characteristics of the clothes formed from the culture and worldview of Goryeo women and to identify the aesthetic characteristics. This paper posits the following: First, that the practice of Buddhism contributed to gender equality between Goryeo women and men; second, that Goryeo had a worldview of unified as in with the East and Korea differentiating from the dichotomous thinking of the West; and third, that the aesthetic characteristics of Goryeo women's clothing included (a) color contrast and an emphasis on patterns based on Pure Land Buddhism and Esoteric Buddhism; (b) The beauty of unitary convergence is the beauty of freedom as an expression of various cultural exchanges and the free and open ways of thinking of Goryeo women; (c) an expression of rhythmical beauty, with the shape of line led to straight to curve line and the change of line through human body's movements; and (d) a perfect balance of proportion and symmetry based on Pure Land Buddhism.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused a recession in the fashion industry. Therefore, this study aims to assess the influence of face masks on the selection of fashion products by Korean women in their twenties and thirties. This is highly relevant as the mandatory donning of face masks becomes a social norm. To this end, an in-depth interview and a survey were conducted. The results indicate that wearing a face mask affects consumers' fashion selection criteria in regard to styles, materials, colors, and types. Face masks have gradually contributed to the unification and simplification of fashion styles due to the atmosphere and wearing of the mask itself, which has led to a decline in the overall interest in fashion. Most consumers in this study felt a disconnect between face masks and fashion products, since the former have not been established within most fashion styles. Consequently, consumers had difficulty naturally aligning face masks with various fashion styles, which eventually led to a decreased interest in fashion. This study is significant in that it provides objective data that can be utilized to establish strategies in the fashion industry regarding the integration of face masks.

This study aimed to ascertain the most efficient level of compression to be applied on a particular area along the upper extremities whilst developing functionality to prevent musculoskeletal disorders among workers who frequently use their arms. The compression areas were divided into upper arm, forearm, and wrist. The compression levels were applied using three types of bands. Comparisons on these bands' usability were based on evaluations of recorded brainwaves and subjective sensation response. Nine men in their twenties were selected for the experiment. The results revealed that when compression was applied, the left and right occipital lobes, plus the parietal lobe, were activated. Also, the alpha wave activity tended to increase, thereby exemplifying the compression's positive effects. The most physiologically efficient and subjectively preferred compression levels were 1.3 and 2.6 kPa for the upper arm and wrist. Furthermore, the compression level at the forearm should be at least 2.0 kPa.

This study analyzed the difference between 2D image and 3D virtual clothing images based on stripe arrangement to obtain fundamental data for slim appearance. First, the slimming effect according to the three types of stripe ratio was examined. Subsequently, the slimming effects of seven types of one-piece dress designs according to the stripe location were analyzed. Subjective ranking was evaluated. The width items and radius of curvature were measured for the image's respective parts. Consequently, in 2D image and 3D virtual clothing images, the one with the narrowest stripe ratio was evaluated as the slimmest; however, the conditions for the slimming effect were different. In the seven one-piece dress designs, a difference was apparent in the ranking of the 2D image and 3D virtual clothing images. In the 3D virtual clothing image, arranging the stripes on the entire garment proved inefficient. The stripes were curved according to the curvature of the human body, creating an optical illusion that differed from that of the 2D image.

This study explores the value structure of experiential rental Hanbok companies using the means-end chain theory. For this, soft laddering was conducted for nine experiential rental Hanbok companies located in Jeonju Hanok Village. Next, the value structure was created. The results are as follows. First, the elicited values are in the following order: “creation of wealth,” “promotion of Korean culture,” “aesthetic value,” “self-actualization,” “community development,” and “transmission of tradition.” Second, most attributes are connected to “creation of wealth.” Third, “promotion of Korean culture” and “community development” are similar to Holden's instrumental values. Fourth, some attributes linked to “aesthetic value” express what the experiential rental Hanbok companies consider to be beautiful. Fifth, the companies pursue “company satisfaction” through “consumer satisfaction” and “company differentiation,” which leads to “self-actualization” and “aesthetic value.” Sixth, it seems that “transmission of tradition” can be achieved through “expertise/expert training,” indicating that some companies think expertise is necessary for the transmission of Hanbok and do it. This study is significant because it is a new attempt to understand the core values of experiential rental Hanbok companies and provides insights into their growth.

The purpose of this study was to reveal the influence of consumers' Hanbok involvement and arousal seeking tendency on their Hanbok preference and purchasing behavior. The survey subjects were male and female consumers ranging in age from teens to those in their fifties. An online survey was conducted, and 627 people were analyzed. Version 26.0 of SPSS was used to perform a t-test as well as frequency, correlation, factor, reliability, and regression analyses. As a result, both Hanbok involvement and arousal seeking tendency derived four factors each. All four factors of Hanbok involvement had a significant effect on Hanbok preference. Two factors of arousal seeking tendency had a significant effect on Hanbok preference. Hanbok preference had a partially significant effect on Hanbok purchasing behavior. Hanbok involvement and arousal seeking tendency had a partially significant impact on Hanbok purchasing behavior. In conclusion, this study is meaningful in that it, for the first time, derived the factor of Hanbok involvement by considering the concept of involvement as it relates to Hanbok and identified that involvement and arousal seeking tendency are variables that affect Hanbok preference and purchasing behavior.