Title: Exploring the efficiencies associated with the e-fashions industry

Authors: Alan D. Smith

Addresses: Department of Management and Marketing, Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA 15219–3099, USA

Abstract: Fashion design is ever changing, depending on moods, styles, seasons, and various market forces. It has always been known as a fast process, but never as quick as it has recently become with the surfacing of e-commerce. Many aspects of retail sales have moved online to try to obtain an edge over their competitors. With the continuous growth of e-commerce and online purchasing, fashion designers must work faster than ever to prepare clothing designs for the websites, by using online tools and computer-aided devices to promptly place the goods on these sites. While it may seem convenient to just pick clothes online, use virtual fitting rooms and custom tailors, there are also many difficulties that hinder e-fashion from being the latest and greatest of e-commerce technology. Various examples were shown to explain the rationale in promoting the e-fashion industry. A conceptual model showing the major forces/processes of e-fashion compared to in-store retailing was also shown.

Keywords: adoption theory; e-commerce; electronic commerce; e-fashions; fashion merchandising; fashion design; fashion industry; clothing industry; apparel industry; garment industry; virtual dressing rooms; computerised personal assistants; online retailing; e-tailing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIS.2006.008954

International Journal of Business Information Systems, 2006 Vol.1 No.4, pp.353 - 369

Published online: 07 Feb 2006 *

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