Esta dissertação se propõe a analisar a trajetória do aglomerado de confecções de Petrópolis/RJ, destacando as transformações ocorridas em seu evoluir, com o propósito de compreender o seu desempenho e as relações existentes de competição e cooperação entre as empresas e instituições que o compõem. Para atingir esse objetivo, realiza-se o resgate dos conceitos teóricos sobre aglomerados produtivos e sua inserção em uma economia globalizada e caracteriza-se a cadeia têxtil-confecções, apresentando as suas etapas de produção e sua contextualização nacional e internacional, para, então, analisar os aspectos históricos, econômicos e institucionais da trajetória do aglomerado. A análise é feita através do estudo da formação industrial de Petrópolis, da coleta de dados primários quantitativos sobre a cadeia têxtil-confecções do município e de pesquisa de campo com a realização de entrevistas junto a instituições e empresas para a obtenção de informações qualitativas do aglomerado. Por fim, este trabalho aponta as forças do aglomerado e quais são os desafios a serem enfrentados para resgatar o seu desenvolvimento. / This dissertation aims to analyze the path of clothing cluster of Petropolis city, highlighting the changes that occurred in its evolution, in order to understand its performance and the relationship of competition and cooperation between companies and institutions that compose it. To attain this end, theoretical concepts of clusters and their insertion in a globalized economy are redeemed and the textile clothing chain is characterized with its stages of production and its national and international context, to then analyze the historical, economic and institutional aspects of cluster’s path. The analysis is done by studying Petropolis’ industrial origin, collecting primary quantitative data of Petropolis’ textile clothing chain and through a field research with institutions and companies in order to obtain cluster’s qualitative data. Finally, this work points out cluster’s strength and what are the challenges to be faced to rescue its development.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to describe women's outdoor garments worn in Oregon from 1880 to 1920 to determine whether there were garment differences between the Willamette Valley and Eastern Oregon. The question addressed was: can garment differences be explained by the different Oregon climates, geographic locations, and availability of goods throughout Oregon during this time? Harper's Bazar and The Ladies' Home Journal were used to identify popular outdoor garment styles by date. A data collection instrument was developed using other instruments and secondary sources as guides. The form allowed collection of information about garment construction, fiber and fabric, and style. Various historical societies and museums throughout Oregon were visited and extant garments from various historical clothing collections were analyzed, photographed, and drawn to scale. When available, information about the original owner and use of the outdoor garments were collected. The information was coded, and it was determined that the sample was too small to statistically determine if there were regional outdoor garment differences. Therefore, frequencies were analyzed and compared. There were some regional garment differences, but they do not appear to be the result of climate and geographic differences. Differences were most likely due to the availability of ready-to-wear outdoor garments and materials. Some outdoor garments were used only for special occasions, while others were worn by multiple family members over a long period of time. / Graduation date: 2006

The increasing popularity of catalog shopping has prompted many retailers to enter the market. Consequently, competition among catalog retailers has escalated. To maintain or expand their customer bases, catalog retailers must now find better ways to serve consumers. Many consumers are apprehensive to shop for apparel via catalog because they associate a higher degree of risk with purchases made through catalogs as opposed to purchases made in a store. Such risk is associated with consumers' uncertainty of purchase outcomes. While in a store, consumers may physically inspect garments before making a purchase decision. However, when shopping via catalog, consumers must rely upon pictures and written descriptions to evaluate garments' color, style, fit, and overall appearance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate ways that information within Norm Thompson catalog apparel descriptions can be presented in order to increase the perceived ability to evaluate specific garment characteristics and to decrease the amount of perceived risk associated with catalog apparel purchases by a sample of women in Oregon. The research project proceeded in two phases: focus groups and an experiment. In the first phase, focus groups were conducted in which female participants evaluated written word descriptions of four apparel items within a Norm Thompson catalog: pants, jacket, blouse, and turtleneck. The first objective of the focus group sessions was to identify what information within the catalog was important to a sample of female consumers. The second objective was to identify what important information was unclear to the sample and to investigate ways to clarify such information. Three focus groups were conducted with a total of seventeen female participants. The information most important to them when making catalog apparel purchase decisions included garment sizing and fit, color, fabric and fiber content, style and detail, country of origin, and laundering instructions. Based upon the focus group participants' suggestions, the researcher altered the garment descriptions to better communicate the information important to the participants. The pant and blouse descriptions were altered to include more specific fabric and fiber content information. The jacket and turtleneck descriptions were altered to include more specific sizing and fit information. The original and altered descriptions were used in the experiment phase. The experiment was a between subjects, repeated measures design with two independent variables: the type of description, original or altered, that subjects were exposed to and whether or not subjects were exposed to a Norm Thompson catalog cover page. Four different catalog formats resulted. Women from a sorority alumnae mailing list were randomly assigned to the four treatment groups. All four catalog formats were accompanied by a rating scale that measured subjects' perceived ability to evaluate specific garment characteristics, such as garment fabric and fiber content and garment sizing and fit, and the degree of risk subjects associated with the purchase of each of the four garments described within the simulated catalog. The third and fourth objectives of the study were addressed in the experiment phase of the study. The third objective was to determine if a sample of female consumers' perceived ability to evaluate specific characteristics of a garment, such as fabric and fiber content or sizing and fit, was a function of the type of written description to which they were exposed. As hypothesized, subjects who were exposed to the altered pant and the altered blouse descriptions perceived greater ability to evaluate the fabric and fiber content of the pants and the blouse. However, contrary to what was hypothesized, subjects exposed to the altered jacket and turtleneck descriptions did not perceive greater ability to evaluate the sizing and fit of the jacket and turtleneck. The fourth objective was to determine if a sample of female consumers' perceived risk regarding the purchase of the catalog apparel items under investigation was a function of the type of description to which they were exposed and whether or not they were exposed to a Norm Thompson catalog cover page, with perceived risk less for subjects exposed to the altered descriptions and less for subjects exposed to the Norm Thompson catalog cover page. None of the four hypotheses pertaining to the fourth objective were supported. Subjects exposed to the altered pant, jacket, blouse, and turtleneck descriptions did not perceive a lesser degree of risk than subjects exposed to the original descriptions. Furthermore, subjects exposed to the Norm Thompson catalog cover page did not perceive a lesser degree of risk than subjects not exposed to the Norm Thompson catalog cover page. Experiment results did not support data from the focus groups phase and data from past research. A focus group methodology, as opposed to an experiment, seemed to attain the most valuable data. It is advisable that in the future, focus groups be conducted to identify ways to better communicate garment information about sizing and fit, fabric and fiber content, style and detail, and color. Furthermore, catalog apparel retailers may use the information extracted in the focus groups phase of the present study to better understand the information needs of female consumers and to improve their catalog layouts. / Graduation date: 1997

The children's apparel industry is a fast-growing industry in the United States. It is important to determine what factors are considered as the most important when parents purchase their pre-school children's clothing. To gain a better understanding of parent-consumers' purchasing behavior of pre-school children's apparel, this study focused on parent-consumers' evaluative criteria used in purchasing pre-school children's apparel both in Taiwan and in the U.S. The purpose of this study was to compare the evaluative criteria used by Taiwan and U.S. parent-consumers in their decisions to purchase children's apparel. The importance of intrinsic criteria directly related to the product itself and some selected extrinsic criteria were examined. The theoretical framework used for the present study was the EKB consumer behavior model; with focus on the alternative evaluation stage of the consumer decision making process. Previous research has examined evaluative criteria used in purchasing women's and men's apparel, but only limited research has investigated evaluative criteria used in purchasing children's apparel. Survey methodology was used to collect data. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to two non-probability, purposive samples to collect quantitative data. Data were collected through two selected pre-schools at Oregon State University in the U.S. and at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taiwan. The samples consisted of 200 parent-consumers with a child or children, ages 3 to 6. Subjects were given questionnaires through teachers or researcher, resulting in a 84.1% response rate. Collected data were analyzed using two sample t-tests. Significant differences were found between the two groups in the importance of aesthetic and extrinsic criteria but not in the importance of usefulness and performance criteria. Among all 22 criteria, significant differences were found between Taiwan and U.S. respondents in the importance of: fiber content, type of fabric, fabric print, having character/logo, color fastness, price, on sale, brand name, and country of origin. The most important criteria for both groups were comfort and size/fit. By identifying the evaluative criteria used by parent-consumers of pre-school children's apparel in two countries, the results partially supported the EKB consumer behavior model. In addition, the findings about the importance of purchase criteria used by parent-consumers may also benefit children's apparel manufacturers and retailers in revising or improving their competitive ability in global marketing. / Graduation date: 1995

Thesis (M.S.)--Utah State University, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 1998. / Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (p. [181]-186) and index.

M. Tech. Fashion Design / The need to educate consumers about eco-friendly clothing cannot be over emphasized any longer, research has shown that consumers with environmental knowledge are likely to purchase eco-friendly products and would be willing to pay a premium price for such products. Cheap clothing rejects the central ethics of sustainability, and they catalyse unnecessary overconsumption behaviour worldwide. With an increase in purchasing power of many consumers, excessive consumption behaviour suggests that cheap fashion merchandise are purchased and disposed of rapidly by several consumer groups. The current fashion retail industry obtains new fashion styles and supplies new clothing ranges within short span of time enticing fervent consumers' with an impetuous buying behaviour, particularly the younger consumers. The majority of consumers do not understand that their buying behaviour and disposal behaviour impacts negatively on the environment. This is a particularly common in South Africa with very few retail shops offering eco-certified clothing merchandise. This study explores consumer awareness on what constitutes eco-fashion and if their knowledge could, in future, influence them towards sustainable buying behaviour. This study also considers educational measures taken by the South African government and non-governmental organisations to empower citizens with respect to environmental issues.

published_or_final_version / Business Administration / Master / Master of Business Administration

published_or_final_version / abstract / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy