This study explores the use of Midjourney (V6) by fashion design undergraduates for AI-supported ideation, focusing on how outcomes differ based on fashion-domain competence and prompt/parameter instruction. A focused ethnographic, comparative case-study design was used to observe a short collection-development module. Data included Discord prompt and parameter logs, generated image outputs (mood boards, look proposals, and pattern drafts), one-on-one interviews, classroom observation notes, and expert co-coding and qualitative evaluation. Participants were organized into four groups by crossing Basic vs. Advanced Fashion competence (BF/AF) with Basic vs. Advanced Prompt training (BP/AP): BF-BP, AF-BP, BF-AP, and AF-AP. BF-BP depended on repetitive/imaginary use and generic descriptors, resulting in visually appealing yet conceptually fragmented and low-feasibility results. AF-BP leveraged a richer domain vocabulary to improve item-level adequacy but struggled to maintain collection-level consistency, leading to the use of external editing tools such as Photoshop and Illustrator for portfolio-level refinement. BF-AP quickly mastered commands and parameters (e.g., /describe, --chaos, --stylize, --ar, --tile, --no, --sref, --cref), generating appealing concept imagery while failing to convert outputs into wearable garments and cohesive collections. AF-AP combined advanced fashion knowledge with strategic parameter sequencing— broad exploration, followed by consistency control and selective refinement—achieving the most coherent, feasible outcomes and positioning AI as an early-stage accelerator rather than a substitute for core design and making skills. Overall, this study proposes “parameter literacy” as a domain-specific extension of GenAI literacy and offers a parameter–process mapping (divergent generation, consistency control, and editing/refinement) to enhance fashion curricula.

While the adoption of AI-based design tools is accelerating in design education, limited research has examined learners’ psychological acceptance of these tools. This study therefore investigates perceptions of CLO 3D, Stable diffusion, and ChatGPT through the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). Survey data were collected from 70 design majors at a university in Seoul and analyzed using regression methods, focusing on four key variables: perceived learning difficulty, efficiency, visual satisfaction, and commercialization potential. The results revealed paradoxical patterns in learning experience, where higher learning intention and perceived intuitiveness sometimes increased learning burden, while efficiency and output similarity reduced it. Efficiency perceptions were strengthened by learning intention, CLO 3D output similarity, and ChatGPT’s visualization support, but weakened when learners relied heavily on traditional creativity or when Stable diffusion’s creativity reflection was emphasized. Visual satisfaction was positively influenced by portfolio development and practical application intentions yet decreased when judged strictly by conventional creativity standards. Commercialization potential increased with efficiency, time savings, ChatGPT utilization, and application planning, but declined with greater familiarity with hand sketching. These findings validate TAM’s dimensions of usefulness and ease of use while highlighting the moderating role of comparison with traditional workflows. The study contributes theoretically by extending TAM to creative education contexts and provides practical guidance for developing instructional strategies that balance efficiency, creativity, and professional applicability.

Modern society seeks coexistence across boundaries, inspiring fashion studies that transcend gender norms to promote equality and harmony. The current study aimed to (a) analyze and classify the design characteristics of men’s genderless fashion (Study 1) and (b) investigate the perceptions, attitudes, and purchase intentions of millennial and Gen Z male consumers regarding genderless fashion (Study 2). For the first study, we selected 192 photographs highlighting genderless features from the men’s clothing collections of 2020 F/W and 2021 S/S in Paris, Milan, London, and New York. A group of fashion experts conducted the classification, with an inter-coder reliability of 92.1%. Genderless fashion was classified into four design properties: fusion, mixing male and female characteristics; juxtaposition, showing coexistence without mixing; transition, emphasizing opposite characteristics; and neutrality, showing neither male nor female features. For Study 2, an online survey was conducted with men in their 20s and 30s (N=74, MeanAge=31.04). The participants reviewed 12 representative photographs that were obtained from Study 1, evaluating recognition, attitudes, and purchase intentions. The results showed that the participants perceived transition as the most feminine, while they judged juxtaposition, fusion, and neutrality as more neutral. The stronger the feminine elements in the materials, colors, silhouettes, fit, and decorative details were, the lower the attitudes and purchase intentions became. This research is significant vis-à-vis identifying the design characteristics of men’s genderless fashion and providing design directions that may encourage actual purchases among millennial and Gen Z male consumers.

This study explores how to integrate the generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool Midjourney into the fashion design process, emphasizing the visualization of sporty fashion concepts. The research applied Midjourney at every stage of the fashion design process: mood board, fashion sketch, flat drawing, production package, fashion show presentation, and store display and sales. Specifically, sporty fashion was selected as the theme, and customized prompts were developed from prior research and design principles to generate visual outputs for each stage. Furthermore, three apparel design experts evaluated the AI-generated images to assess Midjourney’s practical applicability and effectiveness in each phase of the fashion design workflow. Expert evaluations revealed that Midjourney was particularly effective in the early stages, offering diverse and visually engaging imagery that supported creative ideation and mood expression. The tool allowed quick exploration of different silhouettes during the sketching stage but was imprecise in detailed forms and proportions. Limitations became more evident in the flat drawing and work instruction stages, where outputs failed to accurately reflect material textures and technical construction. Prompt refinements and referencebased prompts were tested but often resulted in inconsistent or stylized outputs. Additionally, continuity between stages was missing. Midjourney shows potential as a creative tool, but experts highlight its limitations for practical industry application. Further research is needed to improve prompt optimization and training data for enhanced accuracy and usability in AI-assisted fashion design workflows.

This study aimed to analyze the characteristics of the New-Chinese style appearing in Chinese fashion designer Shiatzy Chen’s collections and, accordingly, recommend various directions for the New-Chinese style design. Regarding the research method, the background and concept of Chinese style and New-Chinese style were reviewed, while relevant characteristics were derived from prior research. Concerning the data collection, 21 season collections from A/W 2014 to A/W 2024, were selected, and 26 reviews and 1,168 collection data were collated. The results are as follows: First, “multicultural convergence” emerges as design methods reflecting social changes and utilizes diverse cultural elements. In fashion design, it emerges in a harmonious combination of culture and artistic styles, expressing the integration of varied cultures —for instance, East–West cultural convergence. Second, “historical tradition” consistently expresses Shiatzy Chen’s fashion; continuously explores Chinese people’s garments and aesthetics; and integrates oriental dignity, culture, and discipline into fashion design. Third, “temporary diversity” refers to a Chinese fashion design culture that represents the seamless blending of traditional culture and modern social values— leading the new consumer market by combining new and old generations, graffiti aesthetics on modern streets, and traditional and contemporary expressions. Fourth, “positive metaphor” expresses the intrinsic mental element and emphasizes covert rather than overt beauty. These expressions metaphorically communicate ancient Chinese legends via artistic techniques, such as contemporary illustration and embroidery, thereby conveying an active mental culture.

This study analyzes the expressive characteristics of fashion design through sensory experiences, focusing on the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s exhibition Sleeping beauties: Reawakening fashion. It aims to explore the creative and innovative potential of fashion design that utilizes sensory experiences while proposing new directions for future fashion exhibitions and the design field. The research scope includes 220 garments and accessories featured in the exhibition. Based on theoretical considerations and case studies, this research classifies and examines fashion design characteristics from the perspectives of olfactory, tactile, visual, auditory, and multi-sensory experiences. The findings indicate that olfactory experiences enhance emotional engagement by integrating fragrance with storytelling, while tactile ones increase immersion through fabric texture and structural elements. Visual experiences strengthen aesthetic appeal and narrative through various digital technologies and lighting effects, while auditory ones convey the emotional messages of fashion design using sound and music. Additionally, multi-sensory experiences combine multiple sensory elements to provide viewers with an immersive, multidimensional experience. This study confirms that sensory experiences expand the creative possibilities of fashion design and suggests new exhibition strategies that integrate sustainability and digital technology. Beyond simple stimuli, sensory experiences foster emotional connections and contribute to enhancing fashion design’s artistic and cultural value. Therefore, this research highlights the importance of integrating sensory experiences with creative approaches and technological convergence to amplify the social and artistic impact of fashion design.

This study explored the development direction of punk fashion through 3D digital fashion design by analyzing the expressive characteristics and inherent meanings of the punk fashion expressed in Vivienne Westwood’s creations. To this end, the concept underlying punk and its expressive characteristics were examined, and the eco-friendly expressive attributes of punk fashion were scrutinized through photos of Vivienne Westwood’s collections. The analysis focused on 10 seasonal collections showcased over the past five years, from the designer’s 2018 S/S to 2022 F/W collections. The results revealed that Westwood’s punk expression was characterized by traditionality, eco-friendliness, playfulness, resistance, and deconstruction. Traditionality appeared in the form of a harmonious redesign of classics to create new works, while eco-friendliness was manifested through the use of slogans and eco-friendly materials and methods. Playfulness conveyed positive messages through comedic situations or characters, and resistance emerged as a means of delivering messages for improving social issues. Finally, the deconstruction of punk was reflected as resistance, boldly destroying fashion structures to express dissatisfaction with society. Punk design in fashion is one of the avenues in which designers effectively express the messages that they want to communicate to society. This study is significant, as it provides foundational data for exploring punk characteristic design strategies to be used in future fashion. The scope of application for 3D virtual clothing programs is expected to expand in the fashion industry, and continuous research on digital fashion design is anticipated.

This study investigates the cognitive characteristics and transition flow of team mental models in virtual reality environments (VRE) compared to Zoom-based collaboration during fashion design problem-solving processes. Using the VRE platform Spatial.io as a case study, the study examines how virtual reality technologies influence the formation of shared mental models among collaborators. The objective is to identify key cognitive features that VREs offer to support problem-solving in multidisciplinary fashion design collaborations. The study employed a comparative experimental design, involving professionals from fashion design, marketing, and production. Participants completed the design concept generation tasks in both VRE and Zoom environments, all interactions were recorded and coded, with the analysis focusing on cognitive transitions, verbal dynamics, and collaborative behavior patterns across both environments. The results reveal that VRE fosters higher frequencies of environmental interaction (EI-EI), cognitive integration (CIM-CI), and planning to execution transitions in team interactions (PP-PIM), forming multidirectional feedback loops. These features enhanced dynamic adaptation to environmental stimuli. In contrast, Zoom-based collaboration relied heavily on linear verbal communication, with fewer cognitive transitions and limited structural feedback loops, thereby reducing efficiency in idea evaluation and execution in team interaction. The study highlights the potential of VREs to transform collaborative practices in fashion design by enabling immersive and multidimensional interactions, contributing to advancing digital collaboration strategies in creative industries, with implications for education and interdisciplinary innovation.

This study explores the contemporary reinterpretation of traditional suit design through the lens of post-structuralist philosopher Jacques Derrida’s concept of decentralization. The objective is to systematically analyze the diverse expression methods of decentralized suits in contemporary fashion and identify their design characteristics, thus exploring various design possibilities for decentraliz suits. To achieve this, the study examines the deconstructivist fashion collections of notable designers such as Martin Margiela, Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons, Alexander McQueen, and Thom Browne, analyzing 269 decentralized suits from their men’s collections from 2009 to the present. The methods of decentralization are categorized based on the structure (composition), details, and materials of the garments, are classified into deconstruction, discontinuity, and disorder. Specific expression methods include irregular wearing, layering, asymmetry, and distortion for deconstruction; omission, heterogeneous insertion, material transition, and separation for discontinuity; and tearing, graffiti, and unfinished elements for disorder. The identified design characteristics are as follows: gender-neutral and category-free, which dismantles the rigid formality and masculine image of suits to allow flexible and diverse gender expressions; integration of unconventional elements, which combines traditional suit design with non-traditional details like ruffles, strings, unfinished edges, and graffiti to create new designs; and sustainable design, which utilizes the deconstruction and recombination of existing suits to recycle discarded suits, making it suitable for upcycling.

This study aims to examine the expressive characteristics of the New Chinese style in the collection of Chinese fashion designer Ziggy Chen, analyze the inner meaning, and suggest a new direction in Chinese fashion design. As a research method, the background and concept of New-Chinese style occurrence were examined through previous studies, and the characteristics of the New Chinese style expression in fashion were investigated. The characteristics of the New Chinese style were summarized as cultural tradition, historical ethnicity, and pluralistic convergence. Based on these contents, the characteristics of the New Chinese style expression in Ziggy Chen’s men’s fashion design were analyzed. The data collection range was selected as the range of 20 seasons collected from 2012 S/S to 2022 A/W, which was collected on fashion sites and the brand’s official Instagram. The analysis results are as follows. First, subcultural resistance is a retro and ragged decadence formed by combining punk elements and industrial styles based on the clothing styles of lower-class Chinese people in the 17th and 90s. Second, cultural traditionality was influenced by traditional culture by mainland Chinese designers, who expressed the conservative presence of tradition and the Chinese style by looking at it from an oriental perspective. Third, historical ethnicity forms a Chinese fashion culture in which the national spirit and the development of the times coexist, while traditional culture and contemporary social values develop in harmony. Fourth, traditional fashion develops by combining a contemporary aesthetic sense and lifestyle with pluralistic convergence.

ㅊThis study aims to analyze fashion design cases using traditional elements based on the research and analysis of traditional folk cultural paper-cutting crafts in China, and to expand the area of fashion design using traditional elements by developing 3D digital fashion design. For herein, the techniques and characteristics of Chinese paper-cutting crafts were investigated. This survey facilitated an analysis of the formative characteristics of battery crafts in contemporary fashion design. As for the analysis case, the case of using battery crafts expressed in modern fashion for 10 years from 2010 to 2024 S/S was selected. The results are as follows. First, the typical characteristics of Chinese paper cutting technology—relief, micro-carved, combined with relief and micro-carved expressive techniques of engraving art effect— can be explored by analyzing contemporary fashion case collections through the perspective and trend of leading traditional culture. Second, in the traditional paper cutting process, most paper-cutting works are expressed in red, but white and black are mainly used in fashion, in addition to the active use of the five colors. Third, the characteristics of contemporary fashion patterns primarily utilize the paper-cutting process, incorporating elements such as plants, animals, and geometric patterns. Fourth, the utilization of paper cutting in 3D digital design offers time and economic benefits, allowing for quick adjustments to various design developments. In contemporary fashion, it is expected that the use of paper cutting can provide useful creativity and value for the inheritance and modernization of traditional culture.

Clothing is intimately intertwined with daily lives as every individual relies on it. The pervasive issue of plagiarism in the fashion industry has led to an increased demand to protect intellectual property rights. Currently, studies on the protection of fashion design intellectual property rights in China remain in the exploratory stage and warrant further investigation. This paper addresses the issue in two parts. The first part contains an analysis of the theoretical foundation for the protection of fashion design copyrights. It is further divided into three subsections. The first subsection primarily examines the concept of copyrights and laws. The second subsection focuses on the concept of fashion design copyrights and laws. The third subsection analyzes copyright laws concerning fashion designs in China. The second section offers an analysis of infringement cases involving fashion designs published during the Baiyi Cup Intellectual Property Case Summary Writing Competition held in China in 2023. It outlines the shortcomings of the current Chinese copyright laws regarding the protection of fashion designs, and proposes measures for improvement. This study argues that the institutional framework for intellectual property rights in the Chinese fashion industry should align with practical considerations and explores suitable legal regulations and how they relate to specific circumstances in China. Besides refining the legal framework, fashion designers and enterprises must take measures to entablish the intellectual property rights of their clothing brands.