CARS Faculty and Students Make a Big Impression at ITAA Again This Year

Faculty and students from the Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies (CARS) department attended the International Textile and Apparel Association’s (ITAA) Annual Conference once again in 2020, though the event looked quite different, as many things do this year.  The international conference was held virtually, via Zoom, from November 18^th through November 20^th.

Although the conference platform was different, the quality of the scholarship remained excellent.  CARS once again made a splash with an astounding 29 research and design submissions presented by faculty and students.  To top it off, the following awards were given to faculty members Dr. Nancy Hodges and Dr. Jin Su, and PhD students Annie Williams and Huicheng (Jeff) Wu for their research papers.  Dr. Jin Su also received the ITAA Service Award!

• Intellect Books Research Award – Exploring Caregivers’ Clothing Choices for Individuals with Severe Alzheimer’s’ Disease: An Application of the Theories of Self-Complexity and Choosing for Others, Hyo Jung “Julie” Chang, Texas Tech University; Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Su-Jeong Hwang Shin, Texas Tech University
• Paper of Distinction – Exploring the Impact of Apparel Suppliers’ Affective and Cognitive Satisfaction on the Buyer-Supplier Relationship: A Power-Dependency Theory Perspective Huicheng (Jeff) Wu, Nancy Hodges, and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Paper of Distinction – Generation Z and Socially Responsible Fashion Consumption: Exploring the Value-Action Gap Annie Williams and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

In addition to the three papers above, CARS faculty and students presented the following research papers at the conference:

• A Look at the Label: Exploring Consumer Perspectives on Communicating Sustainability Information; Annie Williams and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Are Cosmopolitan Consumers Also Sustainable Apparel Consumers? A Conceptual Framework of the Impact of Consumer’s Cosmopolitan Orientation of Sustainable App
• arel Consumption; Maria S. Gil and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Are You Ready for Clothing with Environmental and Social Labels? Kerri Byrd, TJX Companies, INC.; and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Classification of Apparel Product Attributes: Consumer Evaluation of Jeans; Sunhyung Cho, Iowa State University; and Elena Karpova, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Clothing the Virtual Self: An Exploration of the Purchase and Use of Virtual Apparel by Gamers; Meghan Hembree and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Determinants of Online Collaborative Consumption Behavior: The Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action in the Context of Apparel; Kristi Partin and Kittichai (Tu) Watchravesringkan, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Equity Matters: The Role of Sponsored Athletic Apparel in Collegiate Athletic Programs; Rachel Rose and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Examining the Drivers and Barriers of Intention to Use Al Chatbot to Purchase Apparel Online; Mon Thu Myin and Kittichai (Tu) Watchravesringkan, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Exploring Chinese Consumer Traits of Using Clothing Subscription Rental Service; Mon Thu Myin and Huicheng (Jeff) Wu, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Haina Shen, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University; and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Exploring the Influencing Role of Expectancy Values on Online Apparel Rental: The Moderating Effect of Need for Uniqueness; Rachel Rose, Sukyung Seo, Mon Thu Myin, Carol Brathwaite, and Kittichai (Tu) Watchravesringkan, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• How Social Media Type, Electronic Word-of-mouth, and Product Price Influence Attitude and Intention to Purchase Ethical Apparel for US Female Consumers; Melissa Abner, University or Central Missouri; Fatma Bayter, Cornell University; and Elena Karpova, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Improving Pant Fit among Young Chinese Consumers: Evidence from Female College Students in Hangzhou, China; Haina Shen and Xiaofen Ji, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University; Jin Su and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Ting Tao, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University
• No Regrets? An Exploration of Consumer Experiences with Impulse Self-Gifting; Sukyung Seo and Nancy Hodges, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Skill Requirements for Logistics Professionals in the Apparel Industry of Bangladesh: An Importance-Expertise Matrix Analysis; Arif Iqbal and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; and Sabbir Hasan, Bangladesh University of Textiles
• Stitch by Stitch: Addressing the Barriers to Apparel and Textile Reshoring in the United States; Nancy Hodges, Annie, Williams, and Meghan Hembree, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Teaching Sustainability through an Innovative Upcycling Design Project; Haeun (Grace) Bang, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• The Effects of Consumers’ Perceptions of 3D Virtual Garments on Online Purchase Intention; Stephanie Shaneyfelt, Kittichai (Tu) Watchravesringkan, Melanie Carrico, and Trisha Kemerly, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• The Effect of Price Transparency on Brand Perception and Purchase Intention; Xiao Tong, The University of Alabama; and Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• The Kobe Bryant Effect: Celebrity Death, Consumer Grief and Product Attachment; Rachel Rose and Elena Karpova, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• What are the Barriers to Young Millennials’ Consumption of Sustainable Apparel? A Cross-Cultural Analysis of Perceived Risks of Sustainable Apparel; Jin Su, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Xiao Tong, The University of Alabama; and Maria Gil, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Who Is Part of the Problem? Critical Analysis of New York Times Readers’ Comments on the Environmental Cost of Fashion Consumption; Elena Karpova, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Kelly Reddy-Best, Iowa State University; and Farimah Bayat, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Along with research presentations, CARS faculty and students presented the following juried creative scholarship at the conference:

• Infinity; Haeun (Grace) Bang, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Gradable Zero Waste Skirt and Blouse; Melanie Carrico, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Three-In-One Gown; Cassidy Burel, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Design Mentor: Haeun (Grace) Bang
• Untitled Incarnations of Art; Sarah Woods and Melanie Carrico, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
• Vivid Punk; Victoria Sales, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro; Design Mentor: Haeun (Grace) Bang

Congratulations to faculty and students for their awards and their outstanding effort to make 2020 another great year for scholarship coming out of the Consumer, Apparel, and Retail Studies Department at UNCG!  We look forward to seeing what the future holds with the help of your ground-breaking research.