Information and Knowledge Management Perspective Contributions for Fashion Studies

In this chapter a focus on practical organizational aspects is considered: how to understand the development of concrete, objective processes such as logistics and supply chain management for fashion production and commercialization, with the help of information and knowledge management (IKM). For this study, some restrictive fundamentals are applied. The basic methodological aspect is to consider a “collection” as a line of artifacts of clothing produced according fashion concepts and propositions, resulting in several tangible products – as the clothing itself, complementary accessories, usage-oriented implementations – and intangible factors – such as image, communication messages, brand, artistic and cultural propositions, among many others (Sauro, 2009; Godart et al., 2015). It is a remarkably complex result, resulting from an intense creative process that receives internal and external influences, regarding organizational boundaries, which has to be limited to a focus for a particular study, as it is considered for this chapter. It is important also to mention that “collection” as referred here, approaches mainly clothing, although the term is also related to several other artifacts and products, such as shoes, jewelry, particular accessories, etc.

Developing Forecasting Model in Thailand Fashion Market Based on Statistical Analysis and Content-Based Image Retrieval

Traditional trend forecasting process in Thailand fashion industry was challenged by a fast fashion. In this paper, the Content-Based Image Retrieval (CBIR) technique is utilized for retrieval of a fashion trendsetter in fast fashion influence. Firstly, six fashion theories were implemented as 12 variables affecting the trendsetter. Cluster analysis, and factor analysis approach were used to find out the source of a fashion trendsetter as well. Cluster analysis separated all samples into three groups with different fashion ways. Moreover, factor analysis technique grouped all variables into three important factors. From such techniques, Internet media clearly is the best source of a fashion trendsetter. In the authors' model, traditional forecasting sources were added up with a fast fashion influence from CBIR. Then, the CBIR was evaluated in terms of efficiency compared with a real fashion expert in the Thai fashion industry. From statistical test, spatial color distribution yields high efficiency in selecting similar fashion style as a fashion expert.

Strategies for Luxury Fashion Brands' Targeting the Young Audience

The purpose of this chapter is to analyse luxury fashion brands' interactions with consumers, especially on social media. In this sense, we firstly propose a hypothesis relative to how luxury fashion brands can use celebrities (in general, and particularly music and TV idols) and social media to influence on young consumer behaviour. Lately, we try to response this question through a case study based on one of the most South Korean luxury fashion brands. Using members of social media has been a constant in brand strategy. Especially when targeting the young audience. They big consumers and fans of music and audio-visual entertainment products, show a high level of loyalty. This leads them to copy the behaviour and consumption of the same products and brands of their idols. They are big users of social media and the Internet, where they express their feelings, experiences and opinions about their music idols as well as the brands and products they use. This being the case, technology offers empowerment to young people. This allows them not only access to more information but allows the possibility to create their own new content. Thus both roles are important regarding branding. We can use the example of how Korean luxury fashion brands and how they use young music idols to establish a strong emotional relationship with their consumers. They do this by increasing their participation and involvement with their brands in social networks.

Branding, Marketing, and Design

The aim of this chapter is to develop knowledge of retail environments through an overview of the most used technologies in retailing and the contribution of in-store technologies to the experience of the fashion store environment. The chapter commences with an overview of the influence of multichannel development, consumer-facing technologies, and their adoption by fashion retailers. The second part examines the use of digital signage and its contribution to atmospherics in a department store. The researchers have used a mixed method approach, with observational techniques drawn first from ethnographic methodology, and second, a quantitative approach to consumers' environmental response behavior. The results indicate a limited use of innovative in-store technologies and reliance on conventional technological media in fashion stores. Secondly, digital signage demonstrates both communication and experiential effects. The chapter concludes with a discussion of convergence between the virtual and physical store environments and the implications for theory and management.

Fashion Technology and the Development of New Business Models

This chapter explores the concept and components of business models and particularly, the technological innovation of predominant business models in the fashion industry associated with the phenomenon of convergence. The main inquiry revolves around how business models in the fashion industry are handling the ongoing challenges and changes of new technologies. This multiple-case study validates that technological convergence is the key to accomplishing business model innovation in the fashion industry. Limitations and further research are considered relevant because of the dynamic and complex extension of this topic and the current lack of published material.

Predicting Behavioral Intentions Toward Sustainable Fashion Consumption

In recent years, sustainable consumption has received considerable attention. In fact, to save the planet Earth and future generations, it has been proposed the issue of sustainable consumption should be addressed. Consequently, in the present chapter, two theoretical models are analyzed separately, as well as in conjunction, to understand sustainable consumption in the context of fashion. Furthermore, the present study's theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.

Cognitive Processes in Fashion Design

This chapter is concerned with the teaching and learning of modelling in fashion design courses. Following a series of observations, it was found that fashion design students, with normal sight, have difficulties in fully understanding how an item of clothing can be transposed to a modelling display bust, which represents the body of the wearer. The same obstacle affects visually-handicapped students. This study seeks to explore ways of overcoming this problem. It involves seeking to introduce features into teaching that can allow a comprehensive learning program to be taught and in particular, to concentrate on certain key factors - cognition, constancy and abstraction - with regard to the information on fashion projects that can be found in the surrounding learning environment.

Fusion of Artisan and Virtual

Three defining pillars spearhead the current global fashion system: speed to market, overt supply (and consumption) and low prices. This contrasts with a juxtaposing position, through the evolution of slow fashion constructs, embracing artisan techniques with bespoke methodologies. Additional to this is an emerging paradigm integrating new technologies including the strengthening of online retail, virtual interfaces for communication with end-users including customised manufacturing and small scale production runs plus the capacity to communicate and market to anyone, anywhere at anytime across the globe. When these two potentially disparate cultural positions in fashion are considered in tandem, it can facilitate opportunities for small-scale operations to use their size as a platform for flexibility, responsiveness and growth. This model provides for customised and personalised options for a discerning and socially responsible fashion customer. The blurring of bespoke and virtual sees the rise of the digital fashion artisans.

Green Strategy for Production of Antimicrobial Textiles

The article deals with the measurement of the antimicrobial activity for some natural dyes against various types of microbes as (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomons aeruginosa), Using nano materials for some metals or its oxides as titanium oxide for treatment of fabrics before dyeing, these materials were fixed on the fiber by chemical bonds to acquire new properties as antimicrobial activities against bacteria and fungi and also to protect from ultra violet rays. Using a traditional and microwave heating for extraction of dyes and dyeing methods because microwave heating is a more effective method than traditional heating. Other additional features are that, they are cheaper, more economical, eco-friendly, and produce a higher dye uptake as compared to conventional techniques, environmentally friendly pre-treatment by chitosan before dyeing in order to obtain dyed fabric with high quality and more protected against microbes. Application of antimicrobial agents in the development in the textiles as chitosan, qutenary ammonium salt and neem.

The Shop of the Future

Fashion customers often regard shopping online for clothing as being more of a convenience-based event rather than an experience-bearing touch point, lacking both relational and sensory attributes (Cai, Shen, & Guo, 2012). In a clear attempt to add further dimensions to online retailing, virtual reality (VR) clearly emerged at CES 2015 (Consumer Electronic Show) as a promising solution to watch (Housley, 2015). Within the context outlined above, this chapter set out to explore whether and how online retailers within the fashion industry could bridge the gap between the offline and online customer experience through the use of virtual reality solutions. More specifically, the objectives of this chapter are to: (1) explore the potential impact and possible applications of VR within the fashion retailing industry, (2) identify and critically analyse consumers' and fashion retailers' attitudes towards VR, (3) assess contributing factors and barriers to investment in VR solutions by fashion retailers.