Fashion Business Commons^™

Ralph Lauren Strategic Analysis, Baylee Christoffersen

Honors Theses

Ralph Lauren is an apparel company with ownership of many other well-known companies such as Polo Ralph Lauren and Polo Jeans Company. The company specializes in luxury items. Their business model focuses on providing top quality products that are timeless, authentic and inspirational. An analysis of their business strategy will discuss the influential factors on the industry and the company itself using a SWOT analysis. This will identify how Ralph Lauren approaches their opportunities and threats to the company as well as how they address their strengths and weaknesses. Porter’s Five Forces will also be used to determine how Ralph …

Becoming A Modern-Vintage Bride: Something Old, Vintage, Borrowed, And Blue, Lea Marie Chojnacki

Theses

This project is a guidebook, demonstrating how to create a vintage bridal ensemble for a modern-day bride. Vintage fashion and brides as 21st-century bridal wear consumers are investigated. Recommendations for shopping vintage fashion and the benefits of implementing vintage clothing and accessories into one’s wedding day are analyzed. Sourcing efforts using a vintage boutique and private collections are used to create a visual guidebook of four vintage bridal styles, including bohemian, classic, glamorous, and romantic, for a 21st-century bride. This guidebook demonstrates the ease of shopping vintage bridal wear, aiding the reader in becoming a successful modern-day vintage bride.

Clueless: Revolutionizing Sustainable Fashion And Combating Overconsumption, Tanya Ravichandran

Graphic Communication

“Clueless” revolutionizes sustainable fashion by combating wardrobe overconsumption and the industry’s carbon footprint, using AI to suggest personalized outfits from existing wardrobes tailored to weather and wear history. It enhances user engagement through features like outfit ‘shuffle’ and provides insights into wardrobe utilization and carbon impact.

It’s more than an app; it’s a step towards a greener wardrobe and a healthier planet.

Evaluating Garment Fit Perception For Pregnant Women During 1st, 2nd, Or 3rd Trimesters, Nelima Zipporah Barasa

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

During pregnancy, women experience diverse physical body changes as the pregnancy progresses through different periods. It has been noted that anthropometric changes occur during pregnancy in a non-linear manner and can be measured using 3D body scanners at various stages of pregnancy. The changes are diverse, and impact pregnant women's garment fit differently as the pregnancy progresses through each trimester. Pregnant women have experience in dressing their pre-pregnant bodies in stylish garments and would similarly want to dress fashionably when pregnant. This has led to the need for garments that can accommodate body changes comfortably and fashionably without losing the …

Chatgpt Unveiled: Unleashing Ai Magic In Online Shopping And Digital Marketing, Jianping Huang, Mark J. Sciuchetti Dr.

Atlantic Marketing Journal

This research paper explores the use of AI, specifically ChatGPT, in interactive activities within

online shopping and digital marketing. The paper examines the potential of AI-powered chatbots

to enhance customer engagement, personalization, and marketing effectiveness. Through a

literature review, case studies, and user feedback analysis, the research highlights the benefits of

AI chatbots in providing real-time assistance, personalized recommendations, and improved

customer experiences. The paper also addresses ethical and privacy concerns associated with AI

implementation and discusses future research directions. The findings are expected to suggest

that AI-powered chatbots have the potential to revolutionize online shopping and digital

marketing by …

Impact Of Sex In Luxury Fashion Advertisements On Brand Attractiveness And Identification, Alyssa Dana Dana Adomaitis, Diana Saiki, Juan Del Pozo Severino

Publications and Research

Purpose

This study examined perceived brand attractiveness of and identification with fashion luxury brands given different levels of sexuality in advertisements. Sex in advertisements has become increasingly more common to generate attention and interest in fashion luxury products, with limited research on its influence on the consumer. However, the use of sexuality in luxury advertisements may counter the ethical expectations of brands by the current consumer in the United States.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 1,266 males and females completed a survey on brand attractiveness and identification after examining an advertisement of a luxury fashion product. Participants were assigned an advertisement …

Sneakerhead Culture: Consumers And Their Ecological Consciousness, Maria Cervantes

Apparel Merchandising and Product Development Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis aims to investigate the unique subculture of “sneakerheads” and their buying behavior/attitudes, catering carefully to the Northwest Arkansas community and their small community. Sneakerhead culture has gained significant popularity in recent years, with decades of history to back up the phenomenon. Sneaker connoisseurs collect these glamourous, expensive, and rare footwear and are keepsakes of self-expression and identity formation. The study employs an ecological approach to their purchases and seeks to find whether retail and non-retail sneakerheads are conscious of their ecological footprint. The research methodology involves a questionnaire that is catered towards retail or non-retail employees based on …

Improving Global Competence In Classroom-Based Experiential Learning Activities, Juyoung Lee, Caroline Kobia, Jihyeong Son

Journal of Global Education and Research

The purpose of this research was to develop learning activities to improve global competence for a classroom-based course in the field of clothing and textiles and explore how those activities affected the global competence of college students. To achieve this goal, the researchers proposed the following objectives: (a) develop learning activities on global competence and (b) explore the influences of newly proposed learning activities on the global competence of college students. The authors analyzed students’ reflective essays to identify themes through constant comparative analysis. The authors found participants learned about the Japanese culture through diverse aspects of global competence—affective, cognitive, …

Technology Takeover And Transformation: Humans Vs. Technology, Mikayla Tjeerdsma

Theses

When looking at the history of the fashion industry up to the present day, technology can easily distinguish the progress of fashion throughout the ages. The direction of this research is to gain insight and a deeper realization of how technology is taking over and transforming those in and revolving around fashion by slowly taking over and replacing human involvement or presence. Statistics and research show due to the adverse effects of COVID-19, technological development within fashion has seen a significant increase. COVID-19 was either the final push towards making technological ideas a reality or was the birth of new …

How Awareness Levels Of Environmental And Ethical Risks Affect Consumer's Perceptions Of Fast Fashion, Antonina Stragapede

Honors Theses

The fast fashion industry is known for its low prices, quick inventory, and its ability to keep up with runway styles. Yet, the amount of risk that comes along with their processes has been kept hidden. The lenient policies in international countries have given the fast fashion industry leverage to create tons of dangerous carbon emissions, as well as keep labor at an inhumane level. The point of our study was to try to create awareness of both ethical and environmental risks through a randomly distributed intervention. Participants were also encouraged to take part in our longitudinal study to determine …

New Gender Identity In The Fashion Global Workforce, Malik Lee

Publications and Research

In the new global workplace, there is an estimation of at least 40% of employees do not identify as either male or female but rather transgender meaning non-binary, not identify as either male or female (Inclusion, 2023). While there is some acceptance of non-binary employees in the workplace, there are still challenges these individuals face from other LGBTQ employees. It is important that inclusion and diversity are among the human resources practices for all genders. In the United States, the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) was created as part of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, which as an effort to …

Local Label: Why Localism Matters And A Business Plan To Address It., Sydnie Wilson

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

The use of technology within business is evolving and increasing in necessity. As large businesses and corporations invest in research and development, innovations, and data analytics, the ability to serve customers more effectively and efficiently increases substantially. Local Label is a solution for this need.

Local Label is a mobile retail app that connects local consumers to all accessories, shoes, and clothes available at local retailers. The app would be a hub for local retailers to promote their apparel and accessories. Local Label leverages its marketing to be in sync with local events, special occasions, and holidays. The app’s front-face …

The Importance Of Sustainability Within The Fashion Industry, Ashlee S. Hernandez

Theses

Blogging made its debut in 1993 and from that point on the internet would change forever. This project is a lifestyle blog that will highlight the diversity of the word sustainability, focus on the final product and the sustainable methods or practices to get to that final product and dive into the history of blogging and the history of fashion sustainability. This entire project will showcase specific items of women's clothing (the final product) and the sustainable methods or processes involved in creating those final products. This project specifically defines the similarities and differences between the terms eco-friendly, sustainable, green, …

Lindenwood University Spring Fashion Show And Market (April 29, 2023), Lindenwood University

Fashion Show Event Programs & Related Items

Program for the Lindenwood University Spring Fashion Show and Market (April 29, 2023).

The Impact Of Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Fashion Industry, Hannah Dreska

Honors Projects in Finance

This research study is an examination of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the marketing and infrastructure of companies within the commercial fashion industry. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, this paper examines the purchasing preferences and behaviors of young adults and whether their opinions on diversity and inclusivity impact it. Second, this paper examines the financial impact of companies that adopted an inclusive and diverse approach to their marketing strategies and company infrastructure. I hypothesize that inclusivity and diversity are qualities highly valued by consumers and would thus have a positive financial impact on companies that focus on …

The Acceleration Of The Fashion Trend Cycle Through Social Media, Katelin M. Callery

Selected Honors Theses

Fashion is known for its cyclical nature, but this cycle has been careening out of control in recent years. To deduce the cause of this acceleration of the fashion trend cycle, research was conducted to determine social media’s role in the trend cycle. Since coming into prominence in the last 20 years, social media has monumentally impacted countless different areas of modern culture, this paper analyzes its impact on the diffusion of fashion objects into societal relevance. This analysis is conducted through Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation curve and an in depth look into both short and long term fashion trends …

An Empirical Study Of The Impact Of Perceived And Experienced Factors On Purchase Intention For Foreign Natural Cosmetics, Raymond Liu, Leon Zurawicki, Jurui Zhang

Atlantic Marketing Journal

There is a growing attention to the “natural” products in personal care and other areas of fashion consumption. Considering the present inflationary economic environment, the study of American consumers’ attitude toward foreign natural cosmetics and important factors determining the purchasing intent of foreign natural cosmetics imported from Asia (Taiwan in this study) with high quality but low price is timely. Based on literature on Purchase Intention and the Theory of Planned Behavior, we proposed a model and a set of hypotheses to uncover the relationship between purchase intent and the determining factors. Our hypotheses are confirmed following a nationwide survey …

Great Expectations: Consumer-Brand Relationships And Their Influence On The Organizational Outcomes Of Brand Transgressions, Sabrina Viscomi

Atlantic Marketing Journal

The business landscape has shifted from simply delivering quality products and services to creating shared value. It does this by fulfilling consumers’ deeper needs and meeting their increasingly high expectations. Brand transgressions inhibit organizations’ ability to meet consumers’ demands, complicating the consumer-brand relationship. As a result, brands are often unprepared to deal with the consequences of transgressions, which can be costly. The purpose of this research is to explore the influence of prior consumer-brand relationships on the organizational outcomes of brand transgressions through the lens of social contract theory. This systematic review synthesizes 39 articles to derive five analytical themes: …

The Membership Business Model: Great For Business But What About Consumers?, Cara Peters, Bradley W. Brooks

Atlantic Marketing Journal

Membership business models are increasingly prevalent, as they appear to be beneficial to companies. However, questions exist about the benefits of the membership business model to consumers. This paper examines consumer perspectives on the membership business model in the context of customer complaints related to Savage X Fenty’s business practices. Data were collected via 692 complaints posted to the Better Business Bureau website and analyzed according to protocols for phenomenology. Eight themes emerged from the data, beginning with membership sign-up and ending with being charged after-the-fact. The themes captured the different frustrations that consumers experienced with Savage X Fenty’s membership …

Happy Campers Or Unhappy Prisoners: How Materialism Punishes Us In Lockdown Times, Banwari Mittal

Atlantic Marketing Journal

COVID-19 and the resulting lockdowns created an unprecedented upheaval in consumers’ daily lives and lifestyles. The purpose of this research was to understand the psychological experience of life under lockdowns and the role of individual difference variables in that experience. Using survey data from U.S. consumers, the research identified two opposite feelings, coexisting: happy camper feeling or unhappy prisoner feeling. Younger, lower income, and less educated consumers felt more like prisoners than campers. Ability to maintain life as usual, and positive pre-pandemic life conditions (health, social network, and job satisfaction) led to happy camper feelings. In contrast, pre-pandemic materialism led …

The Role Of Worker-Driven Regulation In The Global Fashion Industry, Jessie Wills

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The global fashion industry continues to exploit workers at the bottom of its supply chains. Multinational brands pressure manufacturers to churn out products at increasingly fast rates for increasingly cheaper costs. Severe problems persist in enforcing labor standards in these factories, and methods like voluntary corporate social responsibility are aspirational at best. A newer method of enforcement, worker-driven regulation (WDR), shows promise in its improved enforceability methods and focus on worker voices. The main research question of this paper is: What are the conditions that trigger and sustain worker-driven regulation at the factory level in the apparel industry?

Research methods …

Power Dressing And Its Importance In Modern Democracy, Mansiben R. Patel, Dr. Catherine Amoroso Leslie

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences

This research aimed to study the significance of Power Dressing in a modern democracy, by exploring the dynamics of clothing concerning the power it portrays for women holding influential positions in public office in a variety of countries throughout the world. This research accomplished its motive by collecting, reviewing, and analyzing scholarly articles, academic journals, newspapers, and current events which formed the foundation for data collection using a survey developed by the researchers. The analysis provided a platform for procuring knowledge of the association between Fashion and Politics, the concept of Women’s Power Dressing, and its significance in a modern …

Power Dressing And Its Importance In Modern Democracy, Mansiben R. Patel, Dr. Catherine Amoroso Leslie

Undergraduate Research Journal for the Human Sciences

This research aimed to study the significance of Power Dressing in a modern democracy, by exploring the dynamics of clothing concerning the power it portrays for women holding influential positions in public office in a variety of countries throughout the world. This research accomplished its motive by collecting, reviewing, and analyzing scholarly articles, academic journals, newspapers, and current events which formed the foundation for data collection using a survey developed by the researchers. The analysis provided a platform for procuring knowledge of the association between Fashion and Politics, the concept of Women’s Power Dressing, and its significance in a modern …

Consumer Shift: Examining Female Generation Y Consumers’ Activewear Consumption, Lauren Laporte

LSU Master's Theses

The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in a change to standard consumption patterns as consumers began prioritizing health and wellness, working remotely, and made a switch from material-based consumption practices to an experiential-value-based consumption mindset. Additionally, Covid-19 brought economic downturns, loss of jobs, and supply chain issues. Consequently, the activewear market demonstrated unclear results making it necessary to understand trends within the activewear market while also understanding consumer motivations to wear or not to wear activewear during these societal shifts. This research paper aims it’s focus on female members of Generation Y, a popular and growing market for activewear. …

Laguna Love: A Sustainable Bikini Collection, Aubrianna L. Davenport

Graphic Communication

Graphic Communication can be applied to various industries of design. As a Cal Poly student I had the opportunity to study abroad in Florence, Italy. During that time I studied fashion and product development, which sparked my desire to become a textile designer one day; I specifically hope to work in the surf apparel industry. Whilst taking textile design classes abroad, I learned that I could apply my love for graphic design to the fashion industry quite seamlessly; I am thankful that Graphic Communication has provided me with the skill sets in Adobe Creative Cloud, especially, when applying my knowledge …

Towards A Design Space For Storytelling On The Fashion Technology Runway, Sydney Pratte, Anthony Tang, Shannon Hoover, Maria Elena Hoover, Matt Laprarie, Catherine Larose, Lora Oehlberg

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Fashion is driven by a narrative, i.e. a story or idea that the designer wants to convey to the audience. Fashion-tech now adds another dimension to this narrative through dynamically changing aspects of the garments. Many factors of presentation in a runway show affect how fashion-tech garments communicate a story to the audience. In this pictorial, we review a set of twenty-eight storytelling fashion-tech garments. We identify, catalogue, and categorize the factors designers used to convey stories to the audience from the runway. The design space consists of three levels: (1) the artifact-level, (2) the viewer-level, and (3) the context-level. …

Shaping Millennials’ Attitudes Towards Luxury Brands In International Cities: The Case Of Abu Dhabi, Zeina Mazloum

BAU Journal - Society, Culture and Human Behavior

This study aims to investigate the impact of two intrinsic motives (perceived self-identity and perceived self- status) and two other extrinsic motives (celebrities and social media presence) on millennials' attitudes towards luxury brands; ultimately reflecting on their buying intention. Illustrated through a conceptual framework model, results reveal that intrinsic motives strongly influence millennials' attitudes while extrinsic motives slightly influence their attitudes towards luxury brands; both resulting in molding millennials' buying intention correspondingly.

The Truth Behind Fast Fashion: A Solution To The Issue, Kevin Trung Le

Senior Projects Spring 2023

This paper acknowledges the dominance of large fast fashion retailers in the clothing market. Due to globalization, there have been significant changes over the years as a result of their implementation of the clothing industry. This paper reveals that retailers have held enormous amounts of wealth and power without any oversight. Permitting them to profit from the absence of rules and laws everywhere in the world. A market with perfect competition has been drastically changed to one where maximizing opportunities for profit is the only goal. The industry has suffered greatly as a result of their willingness to pursue such …

The Making Of The Vintage Boutique, Lisa Jones

Liberal Studies (MA) Final Essays

Reason

The Vintage Boutique was opened in the city of Danville, Virginia in 2012. This business is listed as a resale and green boutique. The boutique sells gently used vintage and vintaged inspired clothing and accessories. The boutique is unique in that we are using the boutique to teach the community about recycling and honoring our ancestors all in one step. This adventure has been well accepted by the community at large and we are proud to be going into our 10^th year in business.

Problem

I embarked upon this project to bring awareness to the younger generation and …