Introduction Smartwatches are mini devices that are worn like standard watches, which allow installation and use of mobile apps enabling connectivity and interactivity (Chuah et al., 2016). Park et al. (2016) regard smartwatches as multi-category products and are considered to be the first commercialized wearable technology for consumers (Jung et al., 2016). Wearable technologies refer to high-tech devices that are integrated into clothing, accessories or the human body to provide personalized functions to users, regardless of the types of usage (Choi and Kim, 2016). Thus, the smartwatch is recognised as an important and pioneering sub-category of broader smart-fashion. Wearable technology has become more readily available and widespread in the market. A recent industry report (IDC, 2017) indicates that worldwide shipments of wearable devices are expected to increase by 132% from 102.4 million units to 237.5 million units between 2016 and 2021, driven by the proliferation of new and various types of smartwatches. In the past, high-tech and fashion were considered as two separate industries. However, recent years have witnessed a trend towards fashion and high-tech collaborations (Zimmermann, 2016). For example, “Hermès Apple watch” and “Louis Vuitton Tambour Horizon” (O‟Connor, 2017). Millennial consumers are often perceived as the first high-tech generation. This young generation is increasingly attracted by the innovativeness of smartwatches (Shotter and Bradshaw, 2014). According to PwC (2016), millennials are more likely to use smartwatches than older generations. Gartner‟s (2017) research also highlights that millennials represent the largest user group of wearable technologies. Considering the increasing magnitude of millennials‟ interest in luxury wearables, this study takes factors affecting millennial consumers‟ new technology acceptance, and luxury consumption into account. Despite increasing attention from industry, scholarly research on wearable technology has been limited to technological uses. Extant studies are focused in the fields of information systems, computers in human behaviour (Chuah et al., 2016) or electronic textiles (Berzowska, 2005). They concentrate on how these devices might be utilized for healthcare and safety monitoring, fitness or biometric purposes (Choi & Kim, 2016). Academic research to date therefore tends to be more technology rather than consumer driven (Choi and Kim, 2016). As discussed, although the fashion and technology industries are converging (Zimmermann, 2016), most existing research into smartwatch adoption (Choi & Kim, 2016; Chuah et al., 2016; Kim & Shin, 2016) utilizes standard or fitness-centric smartwatches as the research objects. Researchers generally fail to see smartwatches as a hybrid of high-tech wearable and luxury products. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) (Davis, 1986) is a frequently cited model in predicting consumers‟ intentions to adopt an emerging technology. It depicts that perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are two critical variables influencing users‟ beliefs, attitudes and intentions to embrace a new information system (Legris et al., 2003). An extension of TAM, TAM 2 (Venkatesh and Davis, 2000) denotes the influence of subjective norm on behavioural intentions. In this model, technology adoption is regarded as a process of social influence. TAM has been extensively applied to explain consumer acceptance of e-commerce (Pavlou, 2003), mobile payment (Schierz et al., 2010), smart glasses (Raushnabel and Ro, 2016), mobile learning systems (Park et al., 2012) and standard smartwatches launched by IT brands (Kim and Shin, 2015; Choi an Kim, 2016). Yet, despite considerable research on the application of TAM, studies incorporating TAM 2 to explain consumers‟ perceptions, attitudes and intentions towards using luxury fashion wearables is still scarce. While Choi and Kim (2016) provide a first step towards understanding consumers‟ perceptions of smartwatches, the authors consider only the functional (perceived usefulness and ease of use) and personal (need for uniqueness and vanity) variables. The influences of other factors like emotional and social factors are neglected. Within the context of consumer behaviour, watches are consumed primarily for aesthetic appeal, as well as providing a means for constructing one‟s self-identity. Thus, psychological and social motivations may also be considered as antecedents to luxury fashion smartwatch adoption. In addition, luxury fashion wearable technology products embrace both high-tech functionality and fashionable design. These smartwatches are marketed as luxurious accessories, rather than solely functional digital devices, as self-expressive use of them has become more commonplace (Mintel, 2016). Furthermore, millennial consumers generally consume luxury for social-oriented purposes (Eastman & Liu, 2012). Hence, values that drive millennial consumers‟ luxury consumption, along with factors proposed in TAM 2, are perceived to play a critical role in affecting the adoption of these smart accessories. The premise of this paper is based on Wiedmann et al.‟s (2007) model of luxury values, employing individual values (self-identity and perceived hedonism), social value (perceived conspicuousness) and functional values (perceived usefulness and perceived quality) to investigate the key factors affecting luxury fashion smartwatch adoption. The Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) (Ajzen and Fishbein, 1975) provides a framework for understanding consciously intended consumer behaviour (Yousafzai et al., 2010). It posits that the impact of consumer attitudes and subjective norms on actual behaviour are mediated by behavioural intentions, which is considered the most powerful predictor of human behaviour (Ajzen and Fishbein, 2005). In TRA, the roles of personal and social factors in forming behavioural intentions are considered. This attitude-intention-behaviour association has been extensively validated in various contexts like ethical consumption (Paul et al., 2016), Green Information Technology (Mishra et al., 2014) and online banking (Yousafzai et al., 2010). Yet, nascent research exists on the attitude-intention link in luxury fashion smartwatch adoption. Purpose In order to address the research gaps elucidated, this study aims to examine the relationships between key value propositions of luxury fashion smartwatches, consumer attitudes and their purchase intentions, and to explore millennial consumers‟ overall perceptions of using these luxury wearable technologies. Specifically, this study critically reviews and links the theories of technology adoption and luxury consumer behaviour to investigate and explore consumer behaviour towards luxury fashion smartwatches in order to offer compelling academic and managerial implications. Design/Methodology/Approach A conceptual framework (see Figure 1) was developed grounded in luxury consumption, technology acceptance and consumer behaviour literature, from which 9 research hypotheses and 3 research questions ensued. The model posits that millennial consumers develop attitudes and purchase intentions towards luxury fashion smartwatches in 3 stages. In line with the tri-component attitude model (Fishbein and Ajzen, 1975), consumers learn about luxury fashion smartwatches at the first phase (cognition). The second phase (affective) involves the formation of consumers‟ attitudes towards using luxury fashion smartwatches. At the final phase (conation), consumers develop intentions to buy consistent with their overall evaluations. Drawing on the TRA, relationship between consumer attitudes and purchase behaviour in terms of learning, feeling and doing (Solomon et al., 2010) is depicted. To offer a detailed understanding, mixed methods were employed (Creswell, 2014). An online self-administrated questionnaire was conducted and 230 valid samples were collected. The sample profile were millennial consumers, born between 1980 and 2000 (Young and Hinesly, 2012), who have seen or tried any luxury fashion smartwatch. This study recognizes millennial consumers as the research subject because this generation is described as the next prominent consumers of global luxury and are the largest user group of wearable devices (Higgins et al., 2016; Gartners, 2017). The proposed hypotheses were tested using SPSS 23.0 and subject to 5- statistical tests: reliability, descriptive statistics, factor analysis, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. In addition, two face-to-face semi-structured focus-group discussions with 10 participants were conducted aiming to better understand the millennial consumer perceptions of using luxury fashion smartwatches. Quantitative content analysis and thematic analysis were employed to produce a more organized and comprehensive summary of the qualitative data. << Insert Figure 1 about here >> Findings The findings indicate that functional, individual and social factors influence millennial consumers‟ adoption intention of luxury fashion smartwatches. Empirical results reveal that perceived hedonism and usefulness are the most important factors that motivate adoption intentions, followed by subjective norm and perceived conspicuousness, indicating luxury fashion smartwatches are perceived as both an IT device and luxury fashion accessory. Other factors that might affect adoption are also discussed. A positive association between attitudes towards using luxury fashion smartwatches and purchase intentions is identified. Implications This study addresses a scholarly research gap by examining factors affecting attitudes and intentions towards using luxury fashion smartwatches, from millennial consumers‟ perspectives. It also offers strategic recommendations for luxury fashion brands in launching and growing luxury wearable opportunities specifically aimed at millennial consumers – a substantial and strategic segment for luxury brands. Research limitations and directions for future research are further elucidated. Originality and Value Given extant research on luxury fashion smartwatches is limited, this study contributes to this unique research stream by exploring millennial consumers‟ perceptions towards using these new generation smartwatches. To the authors‟ knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the application of TAM 2 in examining luxury fashion smartwatch adoption, and subjective norms has been proven as one of the most important factors.

Driven by the ability to interconnect with key modern trends of healthcare and fitness, wearable devices are attracting significant level of interest from sports industry marketers. Wearable devices are the new electronic technology equipped with sensors, internet connections, processors, and operating systems and used external to the body, either attached as an accessory or embedded in clothes (Li, Wu, Gao, & Shi, 2016; Raskovic, Martin, & Jovanov, 2004; Yang, Yu, Zo, & Choi, 2016). As fully functional, self-contained electronics, wearable devices allow users to access information measured anytime and anywhere. According to ABI Research (2016), the global wearable device shipments will increase from 202 million in 2016 to more than 501 million by 2021. Specifically, market reports show that wearable fitness trackers have dominated the consumer market for wearable devices by accounting 85% of the wearable technology market in 2016 (International Data Corporation, 2016). A wrist-worn type of wearable fitness devices is the most popular but chest worn type, apparel, and other types (e.g., clip-on, ear-worn, etc.) of wearable devices are also used for fitness tracking. Wearable fitness devices analyze accumulated data of the users’ physical activity as well as provide the health and fitness status in real time. Studies on behavior change through wearable technology showed that feedback based on accurate and insightful analysis could lead long-term use of wearable devices (Fritz, Huang, Murphy, & Zimmermann, 2014; Patel, Asch, & Volpp, 2015). In this regards, smart applications linked to wearable fitness devices are widely used. As electronics IT products and services are recognized as an instance of fashion objects, many studies on the user acceptance of the products and services have focused on the importance of product design and visual attractiveness (Cyr, Head, & Ivanov, 2006; Tzou & Lu, 2007). However, little research has been done on user acceptance and behaviors of wearable fitness devices and smart applications linked to the devices focusing on the effect of the design aesthetics. Thus, the current study seeks to better understand the relationship between design aesthetics and the extended technology acceptance model (TAM) including perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment. In addition, this study seeks to explore the synergistic effect of visual attractiveness of the smart applications linked to them on adoption process of wearable fitness devices and the related services. The definition of fashion is “a way of behaving that is temporarily adopted by a discernible proportion of members of a social group because that chosen behavior is perceived to be socially appropriate for the time and situation (Tzou & Lu, 2009, p. 312- 313).” A fashion object has some unique characteristics including styling, aesthetics, ego gratification, etc. and is perceived to be newer, more novel, more aesthetic or even more attractive than other choices (Tzou & Lu, 2009, p. 313). As iPhone and iWatch have changed the market trends of IT products and services, it is significant that consumer electronics products with visually attractive design are more likely dominate the market and consumers’ willingness to pay is high. As a fashion technology, the most popular type of wearable fitness devices is a bracelet that users can wear on their wrist. Users wear fitness devices 24/7 to track their physical activity to gain information for healthcare and fitness practice. Specifically, wearable fitness devices track physical activity, such as workout time and intensity, steps taken, calories burned, and even sleep patterns. By quantifying users’ behaviors, the devices can educate and motivate individuals to improve their health and fitness practices (Patel et al., 2015). Considering IT products as fashion technology, many studies on user acceptance of new technology show the importance of product design and attractiveness. Researchers found that the sensory experience of information technology as well as physical electronics products determined users’ perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived enjoyment (Childers et al., 2001; Cyr et al., 2006; van der Hdijden, 2003). However, few studies have tested the effect of aesthetics factor on the wearable fitness device adoption process. Thus, this study defines design aesthetics as an aesthetic product design expressed through shapes, colors, and materials and user interfaces of wearable fitness devices (Yang et al., 2016) and examines the effect of design aesthetics on ergonomic conceptions such as perceived usefulness and ease of use and an emotional factor, perceived enjoyment. In addition, this study focuses on the synergistic effect of design aesthetics of a smart application linked to a wearable fitness device which can motivate use of the device by providing the users more insightful information. The devices collect users’ physical activity data 24/7 and transfer the data to a smart application linked to them, either through wireless Bluetooth syncing or plugging the device into users’ smartphone or PC. Then, the application provides useful feedback by informing the users their goals, progress, and the results of activity. Visual attractiveness of a wearable device defined by Yang et al. (2016) included an aesthetic product design expressed through the wearable device as well as through mobile applications linked to the device. However, the function and presentation of a wearable device itself and a smart application linked to the device are different. Simply, the wearable device is a hardware and the smart application is a software. To fully understand the role of a wearable fitness device which is physically presented on users’ body and a smart application linked to the device which requires more information visualization, this study examines the effects of design aesthetics of a wearable fitness device and the smart application linked to the device separately on the model of wearable fitness device and service acceptance. Introduced by Davis (1989), the TAM provides a framework for understanding the likelihood that individuals will adopt a new technology. The TAM postulates that two key factors predict a technological acceptance: perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. Defined as “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would enhance his or her performance (Davis, 1989, p. 320)”, perceived usefulness describes the value users believe they could find in a wearable fitness device. Meanwhile, perceived ease of use is “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would be free of effort (Davis, 1989, p. 320).” According to the model, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use combined to develop behavioral intentions which in turn lead to the adoption of a technology (Davis, Warshaw, & Bagozzi, 1992, p. 660). Regarding IT products and services adoption, researchers consistently found the positive relationship between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention to adopt a new form of technology. Zaremohzzabieh et al. (2015) found a positive relationship between perceived usefulness and behavioral intention to adopt a new form of information communication technology. Lunney, Cunningham, and Eastin (2016) examined factors affecting the adoption of wearable fitness trackers found that perceived usefulness was the key factor that influenced attitude and use. Furthermore, perceived ease of use was a direct determinant of usage behavior. Researchers have agreed that perceived ease of use also a key determinant of intention to use technology (Bhattacheijee & Hikmet, 2008; Lunney et al., 2016; Tzou & Lu, 2009; van der Heijden, 2003). In addition to the original TAM model, researchers have enhanced the model by including a hedonic component of enjoyment in the adoption of IT products and services (Childers, Carr, & Carson, 2001; Cyr et al., 2006; Dabholkar & Bagozzi, 2002). Davis et al. (1992) included perceived enjoyment in TAM defining it as “the extent to which the activity of using the computer is perceived to be enjoyable in its own right, apart from any performance consequences that may be anticipated (p.1113).” Researchers found the positive relationship between perceived enjoyment and use of technology (Cyr et al., 2006; Teo, Lim, & Lai, 1999; van der Heijden, 2003).This study investigates the antecedents, moderator and consequences of wearable fitness device and service acceptance considering them as fashion technology. With empirical analysis, the results will provide interesting insights and suggestions. First, findings will show the effect of design aesthetics on ergonomic conceptions (i.e., perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use) and an emotional factor (i.e., perceived enjoyment). This indicates that IT products are not purely results of engineering advances but be recognized as an instance of fashion objects (Tzou & Lu, 2009). Second, this study focuses on the synergistic effect of design aesthetics of smart application linked to a wearable fitness device which can motivate use of the device by providing the users more insightful information. Findings in the analysis of the effect of design aesthetics of the application and its adoption will provide deeper understanding on users’ wearable fitness device adoption by indicating overall service jointly influences users’ behavior. This study will provide useful insights and evidences to sports marketing managers how consumers make choices, how manufacturers should design services as well as hardware parts in the future.

A firm’s new product success is mainly determined by how well it is accepted by the mass in a short time. Although companies have been adopting various marketing methods, word-of-mouth [WOM] has been regarded as one of the most effective means for customer acquisition (Villanueva, Yoo & Hanssens, 2008), primarily due to its reliability, social support, and support by social pressure and surveillance as Arndt (1967) has suggested (as cited in Woodside and Delozier, 1976). Moreover, online word-of-mouth is being given new significance alongside the advent of social media such as Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other online channels (Berger and Iyengar, 2013; Dellarocase, 2003; Schafer & Taddicken, 2015). For this reason, researchers have paid a close attention to opinion leaders, who are not only early adopters of innovation themselves (Goldsmith & Witt, 2003), but also information transmitters and influencers (Vernette, 2004). Therefore, this study aims to identify both online and offline opinion leaders, who could adopt new products first, and diffuse the adoption of new products to others. Thus, this study draws upon the innovation diffusion theory conceptualized by Rogers (1995). According to Rogers (1995), innovation is defined as an individual’s or an organization’s perception of an idea as new. In addition, he articulates that if an innovation is transferred through certain communication channels over time within a social system by its members, diffusion occurs (Rogers, 1995; Rogers, 2002). The main purpose of this paper is to examine the intermediary role of opinion leadership as a quintessential link between consumer characteristics (consumer innovativeness and lifestyle and values) and new product adoption behavior. The research data is collected through survey, which is conducted by distributing questionnaires to a group of users of Apple Watch by Apple, Mi band by Xiaomi, and the products by Fitbit. The model of the study will be tested through structural equation modeling approach. In particular, this paper considers not only regular opinion leadership in offline context, but also online opinion leadership in order to go with the tide of the developing online world. Moreover, this study selects wearable technology as a new product category, which makes the overall research highly fashion-oriented. Furthermore, this study explores the moderating effect of involvement of product category on the relationship between lifestyles and values and opinion leadership. The author anticipates that fashion innovativeness and four lifestyle and values factors (sense of accomplishment, self-fulfillment, excitement, and fun and enjoyment) will positively affect online and offline opinion leaderships, which again will have a positive influence on new product adoption behavior. Moreover, this study predicts that the correlation between lifestyles and values and involvement of product category will have a positive influence on online and offline opinion leaderships and new product adoption behavior. This study may contribute both to the academia and to the managers within businesses that deal with wearable devices. Theoretically, this study is of particular value in that it adopts consumers’ lifestyles and values as predictors of opinion leadership and new product adoption behavior, which is an uncommon approach within existing research streams regarding opinion leadership and new product acquisition. In managerial terms, by revealing the significant relationships between the consumer characteristics and both offline and online opinion leaderships who are the potential customers of new products, this study enables the managers to identify their targets and differentiate their marketing strategies considering the different characteristics of consumers in offline and online environments. In particular, since this study adopted several wearable technologies as new products, businesses that deal with wearable devices may pay close attention to the results of this study and manipulate their marketing strategies in adequate terms.

ICT in the IOT era is the core basis of modern society. This study investigated and analyzed the recent commercialization trends of smart fashion products internationally and domestically, to utilize them as the basis of data for developing user-friendly smart fashion products that can meet the needs of consumers. Keyword research using the most representative search engines, Google and Naver was conducted for searching for various wearable items commercialized actively since 2010. The final 78 products were classified by the physical area, and the key features and benefits were analyzed. Smart fashion products were classified as four physical types for the head and face, torso, arms and hands, and ankles and feet. Smart fashion products for each body part were developed in various ways, such as hats, glasses, lenses, virtual screens, earphones, headsets, clothing, watches, wrist bands, gloves, rings, wallets, bags, anklets, shoes, socks, and insoles. The main features were music playback, bluetooth, a camera based on NFC, virtual effects, health and safety protection through measuring heartbeat and momentum, and social network sharing of all kinds of information, based on inter-working with a smartphone. These functions represent the physical, social, and emotional interactions among users and their surroundings, as well as the users, themselves. The research results are expected to be used in future studies on planning user-friendly and marketable products through in-depth analysis of the design characteristics of smart fashion products as well as consumer responses.

Wearable computers can be defined as next generation clothing integrated with various digital functions and devices. Unlike existing computers, they are viewed as human-centric computers customized for information utilization and other specific human needs. This study is intended to discover how consumers are accepting wearable computers, which are different from existing computers, based on Technology Acceptance Model(TAM) and to extend the model by adding variable regarding acceptance of wearable computers. A total of 683 copies of questionnaires, distributed to those aged 19 and older, both male and female, were collected online. The data was statistically analyzed for this study using the extended TAM. In order to test hypotheses, the structural equation model using the Lisrel 8.30 version was performed. For analyzing constructs(or traits) of research model, exploratory factor was conducted and the measurement model was assessed from the result. Reliability was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis and the calculation of Cronbach's alpha coefficients. Overall, model fit was assessed by statistical indexes: Chi-square value, GFI, AGFI, and RMR. This study analyzed the process of acceptance of wearable computers with the extended TAM that includes a variable, perceived value, on the basis of previous studies. The results of the analysis revealed that attitude toward wearable computer was directly influenced by perceived usefulness and perceived value but indirectly influenced by perceived ease of use. Acceptance intention of the wearable computer was directly influenced by perceived value and attitude toward wearable computer. To be more specific, perceived usefulness was significantly correlated with both attitude toward wearable computer and acceptance intention of the wearable computer. Perceived value was also significantly correlated with both attitude toward wearable computer and acceptance intention of the wearable computer. The results of this study also suggested that perceived ease of use was actually a causal antecedent to perceived usefulness and perceived value. This research revealed that extended TAM to investigate the acceptance of wearable computer was appropriate. This study is intended to provide a theoretical framework for adoption of wearable computer and suggest empirical analysis that can serve as a guide for wearable computer.