기후 변화에 따른 소비자의 의복 관리 경험

Abstract

This study comprehensively explores how consumers’ clothing care experiences have been influenced by climate change. The study’s qualitative design was based on a grounded theory approach. We conducted in-depth interviews and home-visit observations with 25 Korean families. Consumers perceived climate change as impacting atmospheric factors (i.e., fine dust and yellow-dust) and seasonal factors (i.e., a semitropical climate in the summer season and cold waves in the winter season). Due to climate change, they adopted different clothing care strategies than in the past, which affected all stages of clothing care (i.e., pre-wash care, washing, drying, and post-wash care). However, unless consumers make drastic changes to their living environment, these strategies were never perfect solutions to the problems caused by climate change. This has led consumers to either consider buying new clothing care appliances, such as dryers and Styler which is the clothing care machine, or to expect innovative functions to be developed for existing clothing care appliances. Some consumers also considered modifying the residential environment to build space for efficient clothing care. The present study will help researchers understand the effects of climate change on consumers’ clothing life and suggests implications for clothing care appliance industries.