Theses and Dissertations - Department of Clothing, Textiles & Interior Design

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    Identification of brand personality attributes of southern lifestyle brands and its impact on perceived quality, brand attitude, and purchase intention
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2018) Parks, Jamie Christy; Tong, Xiao; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Many southern lifestyle brands have been experiencing rapid expansion and growth in recent years. In order to continue growing, it is important for marketers to understand what sets their brands apart from other clothing brands. The objective of this research are as follows: (1) to empirically investigate the personality of southern lifestyle brands; (2) to explore the impact of brand personality on perceived quality, brand attitude and purchase intention; and (3) to investigate the relationships among perceived quality, brand attitude, and purchase intention. Specifically, this study used Aaker’s brand personality framework to investigate the personality of southern lifestyle brands based on data collected from 283 participants. Results revealed that the personality of southern lifestyle brands could be described in three dimensions with 62 personality traits: sophisticated, casual, and southern. In addition, the results clearly indicated that brand personality has a significant impact on perceived quality and brand attitude, and there are positive relationships among perceived quality, brand attitude, and purchase intention.
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    An experimental study toward eco-friendly bamboo fiber extraction for textiles
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2017) Rocky, AMK Bahrum Prang; Thompson, Amanda J.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    Due to bamboo’s higher specific compressive strength when compared to wood, brick or concrete, the use of bamboo is mainly in construction and furniture. The morphology of the plant makes it a successful building material. The fibers are dense and strongly connected by lignin, pectin and other natural bonding elements which makes extraction of fibers challenging. That’s why, conventional rayon processing has been employed to create textile fibers by dissolving bamboo in chemicals retaining cellulosic portions only. Consequently, an increasingly popular advertisement in modern global market is “BAMBOO TEXTILES” which has earned interest from ecofriendly consumers. However, further inquiry into manufacturers’ practices show that the bamboo textiles in the market are made of bamboo viscose fibers and are not natural as consumers might be led to believe. Since the cellulose is mainly extracted to produce rayon, bamboo viscose does not retain the natural unique properties. Lignin and other contents in the fibers may make them stiffer but they are the origin of many unique properties. Extensive removal of these elements makes fibers softer and finer which are often associated with viscose. During this research study, 69 different bamboo fibers were produced from Phyllostachys rubromarginata bamboo species. Twenty-six of the specimens were very good and useable for spinning. This study revealed that no lone attempted method of chemical, enzymatic or mechanical treatment was able to produce expected fibers. Combinations of two or more techniques produced pliable fibers. Analyses of physical properties, structures and dimensions, and antibacterial properties of fibers are reported for each experiment. Most of the extracted fibers as well as cotton were found to be higher in diameter than bamboo and regular viscose. Moreover, fibers that showed antimicrobial/antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus were coarser than viscose. This study also focused on ecofriendly production; therefore, chemicals were employed in the lowest level that would still achieve the desired results. Major findings include specimens that achieve pliable natural bamboo fibers with antibacterial properties, possible routes and techniques for fiber extraction, and successive modification steps to the targeted textile fibers.
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    Precious cut: a practice-based research toward zero-waste design by exploring creative pattern cutting methods and draping techniques
    (University of Alabama Libraries, 2015) Saeidi, Elahe; Wimberley, Virginia S.; University of Alabama Tuscaloosa
    With the contemporary methods of fashion construction only effectively using 85 percent of fabric in a garment, 15 percent of the total fabric is left on the cutting room floor. This waste is leaving a “significant ecological footprint”. This thesis is practice-based research to explore creative pattern cutting methods and draping techniques which lead to zero-waste designed garments. This thesis also demonstrates how pre-industrial societies treated fabric as a precious source, utilizing every piece of fabric to minimize waste. The environmental and ethical impact of producing textiles and why we should avoid the wasting of fabric are discussed. Investigations of different ways that fabric waste can be eliminated in the modern fashion industry and various methodological approaches toward zero-waste are examined: Jigsaw with fixed area, Jigsaw with the full width of fabric and tessellation. A new approach, Transformational Reconstruction, which is an innovative patternmaking technique developed by a Japanese designer - Shingo Sato, is examined and tested for its usefulness for zero-waste design. This study proposes that the fashion designer and pattern-cutter can have a great influence on the amount of fabric waste and, working as a team, are capable of producing garments without fabric waste and reducing the ecological footprint of modern apparel production.