In the current controversy over limitation of imported apparel products into the U.S., con sumers have had little opportunity to be heard. This study sought to determine consumers' views of imported versus U.S.‐produced apparel, to determine the product qualities which influence the consumer to buy one over the other and to examine consumer views toward imported apparel in relation to various purchasing practices and demographic variables. A structured telephone interview schedule was used by trained callers in a survey of 408 con sumers chosen randomly from telephone directories in 10 selected areas of the Eastern U.S. In general, consumers did not appear indifferent or apathetic to the issue of whether the apparel they buy has been produced in the U.S. or another country. A majority of the consumers took notice of whether clothing was imported and preferred to have domestically produced apparel, primarily because they perceived garments produced in other countries as being of poorer quality. A summary of the relationships between consumers' views toward imported apparel and some of the demographic variables and purchasing practices of the respondents indicated that in many ways concern over imported apparel appears to be a middle‐socioeconomic class phenomenon.

Structural changes occurring in the U.S. softgoods industry have had a significant impact on manufacturer-retailer relationships. The present study examines certain aspects of these relationships within the context of theory and earlier work on channel relationships. In this study 70% of Missouri's population of apparel producers responded to a survey designed to examine apparel manufacturers' perceptions of working relationships with retailers. Results indicated that larger, more active companies appeared to have less difficulty in their relationships with retail customers than have their smaller, less active counterparts. Manufacturing firms that direct a large proportion of their production to mass merchandisers reported fewer problems in working with mass merchandisers than suppliers directing less of their production to those outlets. Manufacturers relied most heavily on traveling market representatives to establish and maintain retail accounts. Apparel producers saw lower prices and improved products and services (particularly Quick Response) as the primary means of improving their company's ability to market to U.S. retailers. Implications for the softgoods industry and for educators are considered

One hundred and eighty‐four consumers (62 men, 122 women) participated in a simulated shopping experiment to rank garments on the relative importance of price, origin, care, quality and style. Monotonic Analysis of Variance (MONANOVA), a conjoint analysis, was used in this exploratory study to determine relative importance of garment attributes for individuals, for men and women, and for the total group. Both men and women ranked the five garment attributes in the following order: origin, style, price, care and quality. Removal of original labels and the substitution of experimental labels may, however, have encouraged consumers to evaluate garments on origin in the absence of brand and store identification.

Purpose -The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how the performance of apparel products is measured in the apparel business so as to contribute theoretical understanding and the company's capacity of apparel product development. Design/methodology/approach -Qualitative research method was employed. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 27 individuals who have developed apparel products in the US apparel and retail industries. Emergent themes were classified into Griffin and Page's "core success and failure measures" including customer acceptance, financial performance, product-level, and firm-level. Findings -Findings revealed that the performance measures for apparel products are multidimensional. The combination of consumer acceptance and financial performance measures, especially sales and profitability, served as critical measures for apparel product performance. Both long-and short-term performances were considered.Research limitations/implications -The small, convenience and purposeful sample should be considered as a limitation. Practical implications -The findings from this study may be useful for apparel product development in the apparel industry where it is important, particularly in an increasingly competitive marketplace. Originality/value -The emergent performance measures in this study may be used as a baseline for further studies that need to measure apparel product performance.

This study examines the selection criteria, country preference and people which influence Taiwanese male office workers' business apparel purchases in Taiwan. A partial model by Engel, Blackwell and Miniard (EBM) was used as the framework to indicate that the culture factor directly affects consumers' decision‐making process of purchase behaviour. A total of 232 questionnaires from male consumers in Taipei, Taiwan, were used for data analyses. Selection criteria, country preference and influential people were analysed by demographic variables including age, marital status, education, occupation, and yearly expenditure for business apparel purchase. Overall, the respondents ranked the selection criteria in order of descending importance as: fit, colour, price, style, quality, brand name, ease of care, fibre content and country. The order of country preference was rated first to last as: Taiwanese, Italian, US, French, British, Japanese, Hong Kong, German and Canadian. Individuals who influenced purchases were ranked as: my own opinion, wife or girlfriend, female friend, family member or other relative, male friend and salesperson. This research suggests that if foreign companies want to market to Taiwanese male consumers, they must develop appropriate strategies that help to change the domestic bias of the older males, or choose to appeal to younger males in hopes of developing long‐term brand loyalty. Additionally, the price strategies should be adjusted to be more competitive in Taiwan's marketplace. Meanwhile, fit and colour of apparel products may also need to be altered or modified in order to reach Taiwanese male consumers' demands.