Search results

1 – 10 of over 2000
Article
Publication date: 10 November 2014

Annunziata de Felice

The purpose of this paper is to seek to develop a rigorous analysis of social capabilities (SC) and measuring them in a special industrial cluster, considering the key role of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to seek to develop a rigorous analysis of social capabilities (SC) and measuring them in a special industrial cluster, considering the key role of knowledge and SC in innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper sets off from the definition of SC and the elements that characterize them in an industrial cluster. The focus also examines how it is possible to measure SC within a specific area, using the scoreboard approach. The empirical aspect remains based upon the original results of surveys conducted on a sample of entrepreneurs specializing in a special industrial cluster utilizing a multi-method approach and the paper presents the empirical analysis estimating an innovation equation.

Findings

The results of the case study show that the relationship between SC and innovation does not only involve large enterprises but small- and medium-sized businesses as well.

Originality/value

Measuring SC is very complex since not all the highlighted determinants can be subject to empirical verification and given that they are intangible elements, residual and often incorporated into tacit knowledge and a literature that can help us in defining and measuring them accurately is not always available for all the indicators. In this research the author proposes a measure of SC using a composite indicator and investigates the effective role of these inputs in stimulating innovative activity in an industrial cluster performance.

Details

Journal of Economic Studies, vol. 41 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0144-3585

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 May 2008

Jane Lu Hsu and Kai‐Ming Chang

The purpose of this paper is to examine how family communication patterns and lifestyles are linked to purchases of sports shoes and casual clothing for young adults.

5171

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how family communication patterns and lifestyles are linked to purchases of sports shoes and casual clothing for young adults.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was conducted in 2005, and total valid samples were 576. Differences in purchasing decisions among various segments of young adults are analysed for two product categories: sports shoes and casual clothing.

Findings

This study segments the respondents into two clusters, pragmatic and fashion‐cognisant. The family communication patterns for respondents in the pragmatic cluster are more likely to be low concept‐oriented, Protective and Laissez‐faire. The respondents in the pragmatic cluster purchase sports shoes and casual clothing less frequently, and pay less attention to marketing‐related information. The fashion‐cognisant respondents pay special attention to the marketing‐related information and brands can be influential in decisions. These fashion‐cognisant young adults are considered to be opinion leaders, and purchase sports shoes and casual clothing more frequently with higher budgets. The family communication patterns of respondents in this cluster are high concept‐oriented: Pluralistic and Consensual.

Practical implications

Strategic marketing designed to attract pragmatic young adults can follow two directions: atmosphere in stores and discounts. For young adults who are fashion‐cognisant, directions of strategic marketing are to strengthen the brand image and utilise advertising to disseminate information.

Originality/value

This study provides new insights into the area that has not been studied exclusively, the linkages of family communication patterns and lifestyles to purchases of sports shoes and casual clothing.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 12 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 December 2004

George K. Stylios

Examines the tenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects…

3517

Abstract

Examines the tenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 16 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 October 2020

Chih-Hao Wen and Yuh-Chuan Shih

Combining the collected human body variables by a 3D body scanner and the research results of medical computed tomography (CT) imaging, this research aims to develop a military…

386

Abstract

Purpose

Combining the collected human body variables by a 3D body scanner and the research results of medical computed tomography (CT) imaging, this research aims to develop a military bulletproof vest that is both protective and fit. In particular, the protective part must be able to cover the vital human internal organs completely. The results of this research help to make military bulletproof vests of different sizes for Taiwanese male and female soldiers. At the same time, the research results can provide a reference for the industry of making special-purpose clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

17 important human body variables of 988 participants (male: 716, 72.5%; female 272, 27.5%) are used for the analysis. The K-means algorithm firstly builds clusters of different body shapes for both sexes; the silhouette coefficient helps to determine the optimal number of clusters to be six. Thus, the standard size of the bulletproof vest for soldiers is determined. The specifications of the bulletproof vest's inner core and textile vest are calculated for each cluster user. Our research then makes twelve prototypes of the bulletproof vest. After that, 12 subjects are invited to try on the new version (the vest designed in this study) and the old version (the vest currently used) to contrast the differences between the two.

Findings

According to the index of the silhouette coefficient, the optimal number of clusters is determined to be six for both male and female clusters. Therefore, this study has designed six sizes of the bulletproof vest for male and female soldiers in Taiwan. After trying the new and old vests on, the subjects all indicate that the new vest fits better than the old one. In addition, the coverage of the bulletproof vest designed in this study is 94.38% for male users and 92.75% for female users.

Originality/value

The design of bulletproof vests must take note of the fit of the clothing itself and its protective function. Apart from the size design of general clothing only focusing on the human shape exteriorly, the bulletproof vest also needs to pay attention to the relative positions of vital organs inside the human body. Besides, for practical applications, it is quite effective to use the silhouette coefficient to determine the results of cluster analysis. Thus, the value of this research lies in the cross-field combination, enabling the integration of body measurement, data science and clothing design. Generally, bulletproof vests of newly designed sizes can meet the requirements of Taiwan's military. The research results can be used in the development of various military clothing for Taiwanese military personnel. At the same time, the results can be provided to the clothing industry as relevant parameters for designing unique functional clothing.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2014

Liu Jiongzhou, Li Jituo and Lu Guodong

The 3D dynamic clothing simulation is widely used in computer-added garment design. Collision detection and response are the essential component and also the efficiency bottleneck…

Abstract

Purpose

The 3D dynamic clothing simulation is widely used in computer-added garment design. Collision detection and response are the essential component and also the efficiency bottleneck in the simulation. The purpose of this paper is to propose a high efficient collision detection algorithm for 3D clothing-human dynamic simulation to achieve both real-time and virtually real simulation effects.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors approach utilizes the offline data learning results to simplify the online collision detection complexity. The approach includes two stages. In the off-line stage, model triangles with most similar deformations are first, partitioned into several near-rigid-clusters. Clusters from the clothing model and the human model are matched as pairs according to the fact that they hold the potential to intersect. For each cluster, a hierarchical bounding box tree is then constructed. In the on-line stage, collision detection is checked and treated parallelly inside each cluster pairs. A multiple task allocation strategy is proposed in parallel computation to ensure efficiency.

Findings

Reasonably partitioning the 3D clothing and human model surfaces into several clusters and implementing collision detection on these cluster pairs can efficiently reduce the model primitive amounts that need be detected, consequently both improving the detection efficiency and remaining the simulation virtual effect.

Originality/value

The current methods only utilize the dynamic clothing-human status; the authors algorithm furthermore combines the intrinsic correspondence relationship between clothing and human clusters to efficiently shrink the detection query scope to accelerate the detection speed. Moreover, partitioning the model into several independent clusters as detection units is much more profitable for parallel computation than current methods those treat the model entirety as the unit.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 26 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 April 2022

Shuyang Li, Shu Jiang, Miao Tian, Yun Su and Jun Li

The purpose of this paper is to gain an in-depth understanding of the research progress, hotspots and future trends in the field of functional clothing.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to gain an in-depth understanding of the research progress, hotspots and future trends in the field of functional clothing.

Design/methodology/approach

The records of 4,153 pieces of literature related to functional clothing were retrieved from Web of Science by using a comprehensive retrieval strategy. A piece of software, CiteSpace was used as a tool to visualize the results of specific terms, such as author, institution and keyword. By analyzing the knowledge maps with several indicators, the intellectual basis and research fronts for the functional clothing domain could then be demonstrated.

Findings

The result indicated that functional clothing was a popular research field, with approximately 500 papers published worldwide in 2020. Its main research area was material science and involved public environmental and occupational health, engineering, etc. showing the characteristic of multi-interdisciplinary. Textile Research Journal and International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology were the top two journals in this field. The USA, China, Australia, England and Germany have been active and frequently cooperating with each other. Donghua University, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and NASA, with the largest number of publications, were identified as the main research drivers. According to the co-citation analysis, thermal stress, nanogenerator and electrospinning were the topics of most cited articles during the past 20 years.

Practical implications

The findings identified smart clothing and protective clothing to be the research frontiers in the field of functional clothing, which deserved further study in the future.

Originality/value

The outcomes offered an overview of the research status and future trends of the functional clothing field. It could not only provide scholars with convenience in identifying research hotspots and building potential cooperation in the follow-up research, but also assist beginners in searching core scholars and literature of great significance.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 March 2016

Youngsook Kim, Hwa Kyung Song and Susan P. Ashdown

The purpose of this paper is to analyze petite women’s body size and figure and investigate whether current petite sizing charts accurately reflect actual petit size women’s…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze petite women’s body size and figure and investigate whether current petite sizing charts accurately reflect actual petit size women’s bodies. This study also categorizes petite women’s body shapes and suggests primary body measurements as a base size for each shape. The ultimate goal is to suggest fundamental body measurements for apparel companies to modify and improve their sizing.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used data from SizeUSA data to compare body measurements of 18-35-year-old petite women to regular women. The authors compared the results to measurement differences between petite and regular sizing charts of 14 apparel companies. Then, using the principal component analysis and cluster analysis, the authors classified petite women’s body shapes. Body measurements for each body type are contrasted with the current petite sizing charts, and then, the authors present differences as suggestions for modification and improvement of petite sizing.

Findings

Industry sizing system do not generally represent average petite size women preciously except for stature. Within the petite women, four body types were identified (top petite: 30.0 percent, bottom petite: 30.8 percent, regular petite: 23.6 percent, and plus size: 15.4 percent). Of the four groups, the ASTM D7878 generally represented the “top petite” sizing.

Originality/value

It is the first to analyze the industry petite sizing system utilizing population data and focus petite sizing for women aged 18-35. The authors believe this study could draw attention of the apparel industry, providing companies with ideas of how to improve their petite sizing for young women.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 April 2018

Weizhen Wang, Yukari Nagai, Yuan Fang and Masami Maekawa

The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap between human emotions and wearable technologies for interactive fashion innovation. To consider the reasons why smart clothing

1522

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to bridge the gap between human emotions and wearable technologies for interactive fashion innovation. To consider the reasons why smart clothing should satisfy the internet of things (IoT) technical functions and human emotional expression simultaneously, to investigate the manner in which artistic design perspectives and engineering methods combined effectively, to explore the R&D elements of future smart clothing based on the IoT technology.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines artistic design perspectives with information-sensing engineering methods as well as kansei evaluation method. Micro-sensors and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) embedded in couples clothing prototype. The first experiment step in the design and production of prototype clothing, and do the initial emotional evaluation. The second experiment is the comparative evaluation of the prototype and other typical smart clothing.

Findings

The interactive clothing prototype was proven to correlate well with human emotional expressive patterns. The evaluation I indicated the prototype can stimulate the emotional response of the participants to achieve a higher score in the activate sensor state. Evaluation II revealed that in the process of interactive clothing design, the technical functionality should synchronize with the requirements of human emotional expression.

Originality/value

This study builds the research and development theoretical model of interactive clothing that can be integrated into daily smart clothing life design, and analyze the methods and means of blending IoT smart information-sensing technology with emotional design. By means of this experimental demonstration of human-centered interactive clothing design, the authors provide smart clothing 3.0 evolutionary roadmap and propose a new concept of internet of clothes (IoC) for further research reference.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2004

R.M. Jones and S.G. Hayes

To provide an opinion as to the demise or metamorphosis of the UK clothing industry within the wider European context. Recently conducted research, along with a range of pertinent…

7195

Abstract

To provide an opinion as to the demise or metamorphosis of the UK clothing industry within the wider European context. Recently conducted research, along with a range of pertinent published (1978‐2004) statistical data are used to inform the authors' viewpoint on the development of the UK clothing industry. The statistical evidence describing the change in import penetration, employment levels and the impact of the national minimum wage support the view that a new typology of the clothing industry is emerging from the ashes of a rapidly declined manufacturing base. Some of the detail of garment types is hidden by the SIC system. Conversely, at times, the very categories used appear to have little contemporary relevance. Three areas of concern would remain: first, that over time the cluster itself would lose its critical mass; second, that the cluster might collapse if the central core of manufacturing is hollowed out; and third, that over time some of the “knowledge based” tasks such as design and product development might themselves be subject to migration to lower‐cost locations. This paper contributes a carefully considered, and compiled, viewpoint from experienced observers of the UK clothing industry that augments the debate centred on the development of the EU clothing industry.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 November 2012

George K. Stylios

Examines the seventeenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects…

1099

Abstract

Examines the seventeenth published year of the ITCRR. Runs the whole gamut of textile innovation, research and testing, some of which investigates hitherto untouched aspects. Subjects discussed include cotton fabric processing, asbestos substitutes, textile adjuncts to cardiovascular surgery, wet textile processes, hand evaluation, nanotechnology, thermoplastic composites, robotic ironing, protective clothing (agricultural and industrial), ecological aspects of fibre properties – to name but a few! There would appear to be no limit to the future potential for textile applications.

Details

International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology, vol. 24 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-6222

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 2000