Comparison of elegance of Japanese and European jackets

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors affecting the impression of elegance of a jacket’s appearance. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey on the impression of jacket appearance was conducted using images of jackets of Japanese and European brands. A paired comparison and sensory test were carried out for four Japanese and European jackets. To explain different jacket appearances, the jacket patterns and silhouettes were investigated from an engineering point of view. Findings – Most Japanese subjects responded that European jackets in images were more elegant and characteristic of European style. In a comparison of jacket silhouettes, Jacket 1 (European brand) was evaluated as the most elegant. The waist and bust parts of Jacket 1 had three-dimensional shape whereas the Japanese jackets had planar and rectilinear shapes. This was due to the difference in the waist darts and curved lines in the patterns. Jacket appearance in terms of elegance is thus mainly affected by the waist and bust shapes, which are affected by darts and lines in the patterns. Originality/value – This is pioneering research on the elegance of garment appearance from an engineering point of view, using actual clothing. The comparison results for commercial jackets will be valuable to the apparel industry.