The Meaning of Fashion: Implicit and Explicit Self-esteem and Depression

This study investigates the relationship between the implicit self-esteem and the depression to fill the gap. In psychological field, the therapy is considered to be effective as both external and internal selves are healed. Hence, this study employed implicit self-reported method to examine the genuine therapeutic effect of fashion. This study is significant as it facilitated the implicit association test (IAT) in first place in fashion field. The purpose of the study is to develop the foundation of positive effect of fashion by revealing the relationship between the fashion and the substantial self

Clothing acculturation of North Korean female defectors in South Korea

Abstract The purpose of this study is to observe how female defectors from North Korea acculturate in South Korean clothing culture and to discuss possible policies to help their cultural settlement. North Korean defectors can experience culture shock and feel much pressure to adopt new lifestyle in terms of South Korean mode of fashion. Therefore, this research examines cultural points where NK female defectors recognize differences between two clothing cultures. To this end, in-depth interview was conducted with 11 participants. Researchers observed three types of clothing acculturation and drew a paradigm model that depicts the phenomenon of clothing acculturation of North Korean female defectors. Lastly, this study discussed about three possible policy suggestions based on the observed acculturation strategies by acculturation types. This study involves academic implications for investigating clothing acculturation by an immigrant group in a new society in a broad sense. There is a limit on this research that there can be some biased responses from participants because of the uniqueness of the group

Presenting fabrics in digital environment: fashion designers perspectives on communicating tactile qualities of the fabrics

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced the fashion industry to digitalize the conventional work system. Fashion designers were required to work from home, and textile trade shows were held online. However, fabric suppliers were unable to present their fabrics in a manner that enabled their properties to be easily understood. Visual information, such as photographs, videos, and the brief explanations provided by fabric suppliers were insufficient for fashion designers to comprehend the fabrics properties. Thus, this research aims to identify the critical information for fashion designers in their digital fabric search and to discover effective ways to present this information. The current state of online tactile information was analyzed by conducting content analysis on several online fabric retailers. Then, semi-structured one-on-one in-depth interviews with 25 fashion designers were conducted to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the existing types of visual and textual information. Results revealed the most effective ways to present fabrics online. Specific guidelines were established for photographing or writing each type of information. Finally, a conceptual framework for fabric tactile communication in digital environments was developed. This study can contribute to the improvement of a designers experience in online fabric markets and can be used as a fundamental guide on designers tactile perception of fabrics, which can support technologies, such as haptic devices and 3D clothing simulation software.This work was supported by BK21 Plus project of the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government

A Cross-cultural Study of Proximity of Clothing to Self between South Korea and Mongolia

South Korea and Mongolia which countries experienced totally different social and cultural background. The current study, explored how the level of the cultural dimensions, affects the human psychology in relation to using fashion as a tool of representing ˜self\u27, and examined how the level of self-expression through clothing affects the quality of life. The questionnaire was composed based on the Hofstede\u27s Cultural Variability Dimension Scale (Hofstede and Minkov, 2013), the Proximity of Clothing to Self Scale developed by Sontag and Lee (2004), and Quality of Life Scale from study of Lee, et al (2002) for the study. Through exploratory factor analysis, four original factors of PCS were identified. To compare the level of cultural dimensions, each cultural index was calculated using formula suggested by Hofstede and Minkov (2013) and then independent T-test was performed to confirm significance. Multiple regression analysis identified negative relationship between the level of IDV and PCS2 (β=-.28, p\u3c.001) and PCS3 (β=-.19, p\u3c.05) as well as MAS and PCS4 (β=-.15, p\u3c.05) in South Korea; while it found positive relationship between IVR and PCS2 (β=.15, p\u3c.05) and PCS3(β=.21, p\u3c.001) in Mongolia. Further, regression analysis results revealed that PCS1 (β=.28, p\u3c.001), PCS2 (β=.27, p\u3c.001), and PCS4 (β=.20, p\u3c.01) are positively related to QOL in South Korea; and PCS1 (β=.16, p\u3c.01), PCS2 (β=.30, p\u3c.001), PCS3 (β=.22, p\u3c.001) and PCS4 (β=.22, p\u3c.001) are positively related to QOL in Mongolia. The findings of this exploratory study helps explain differences in fashion psychology in relation to the cultural value and the important role of clothing in the quality of human life. These findings together suggest that specific cultural values of a country can affect motives for choosing certain product or brand to express self through fashion. Thus marketers need to be considerate in communicating advertisement message, as self-enhancement through fashion can be motivated by different cultural values

A cross-cultural study of the proximity of clothing to self between millennial women in South Korea and Mongolia

Abstract As a part of material culture, clothing embodies the cultural specificity based on the influence of that culture on individuals. The cultural value model of Hofstede broadly describes the dimensional characteristics of each country. At the same time, the proximity of clothing to a self-scale represents the level of psychological closeness of clothing to identity. Even though it is theoretically correct that these two concepts—culture and clothing that expresses ones self—are related, few studies have highlighted this connection. In this study, we investigated the effect of cultural values on how the individuals involve their clothing with their social identity by focussing on the differences between two culturally different countries: South Korea and Mongolia. Quantitative surveys from 179 in South Korea and 262 in Mongolia and t-tests showed cultural differences in both countries individualism and indulgence vs their restrained disposition. The multiple regression analysis results revealed that uncertainty avoidance and indulgence correlate with three dimensions in the proximity of clothing to self: clothing to self as structure, clothing as a response to others judgements, and clothing-related to self-esteem. The moderating effect of each country was not found. This result implies that knowing the cultural values of a particular group can infer their clothing consciousness. Thus, when fashion companies target millennial women in South Korea and Mongolia and establish a more significant presence abroad, examining a countrys or a groups culture helps identify the target market's clothing perceptions

High density of ice krill (Euphausia crystallorophias) in the Amundsen sea coastal polynya, Antarctica

High densities of ice krill Euphausia crystallorophias were observed along six acoustic transects within the Amundsen Sea Coastal Polynya, Antarctica. Two-frequency acoustic backscatter data was examined in the austral summers of January 2011 and February 2012. A dB identification window (Sv120−38) identified ice krill dominating the acoustic backscatter. The density of ice krill, calculated with the stochastic distorted-wave born approximation model, ranged between 4.5 and 30 g wet mass m−2 for each transect (a mean of 16 g wet mass m−2 for all transects), these high values are an order of magnitude higher than recorded previously in the Ross Sea Polynya. High densities were detected along the ice shelf and near the boundary between pack ice and coastal polynya, and we postulate that these could be important habitats for ice krill. The high densities observed along the transects make ice krill a potentially important, but poorly known contributor to these high-latitude shelf food webs

Induction of Remission is Difficult due to Frequent Relapse during Tapering Steroids in Korean Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica

Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disease affecting elderly and involving the shoulder and pelvic girdles. No epidemiological study of polymyalgia rheumatica was conducted in Korea. We retrospectively evaluated patients with polymyalgia rheumatica followed up at the rheumatology clinics of 10 tertiary hospitals. In total 51 patients, 36 patients (70.6%) were female. Age at disease onset was 67.4 yr. Twenty-three patients (45.1%) developed polymyalgia rheumatica in winter. Shoulder girdle ache was observed in 45 patients (90%) and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (> 40 mm/h) in 49 patients (96.1%). Initial steroid dose was 23.3 mg/d prednisolone equivalent. Time to normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 4.1 months. Only 8 patients (15.7%) achieved remission. Among 41 patients followed up, 28 patients (68.3%) had flare at least once. Number of flares was 1.5 ± 1.6. The frequency of flare was significantly lower in patients with remission (P = 0.02). In Korea, polymyalgia rheumatica commonly develops during winter. Initial response to steroid is fairly good, but the prognosis is not benign because remission is rare with frequent relapse requiring long-term steroid treatment

Neo-Crosssexual fashion in contemporary mens suits

Today, fashionable menswear is appropriating traditionally feminine design elements on an unparalleled international scale. This phenomenon should not be interpreted purely as a subversive gender issue, but should also be viewed as an expression of personal style and taste. In order to properly describe this phenomenon, the term crosssexual must be introduced to English fashion vocabulary. This paper examines the innovative design characteristics of contemporary crosssexual menswear emerging prominently in mens suits since 2015 and also raises the necessity of coining a new term: neo-crosssexual. Ultimately, this paper reveals how neo-crosssexual fashion employs a great variety of innovative silhouettes and novel design elements—ranging from structural or decorative details to colors, fabrics, patterns, and accessories—all of which enable the wearer to express whatever image of themselves they desire. Previous studies have interpreted crosssexual fashion as men simply portraying themselves as effeminate by wearing such clothing, but this conclusion is reductive and reveals there is still an unconscious recognition of limiting binary associations. The richness of neo-crosssexual fashion design, rather, gives individuals freedom to choose a sartorial image devoid of binary constraints. Conventionally classified feminine designs are now perceived as creative and functional means to fluidity. This positive cultural shift has led to an increasing number of men choosing to wear suits that incorporate feminine design elements, freeing this traditional garment from its limited formal use and symbolic hegemonic power.This work was supported by BK21 Plus project of the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government