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한국복식학회(IJCF) 학술지영문홈페이지
[ Article ]
International Journal of Costume and Fashion - Vol. 25, No. 1, pp.71-85
ISSN: 2233-9051 (Print) 2288-7490 (Online)
Print publication date 30 Jun 2025
Received 27 Mar 2025 Revised 24 May 2025 Accepted 09 Jun 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7233/ijcf.2024.25.1.071

Weather Sensitivity to Clothing Expenditure in Two Climate Zones in South Korea

Jungmi Oh† ; Jun-Hyeok Son
Research Professor, Research Center for Climate Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea
Deputy Director, Climate Prediction Division, Korea Meteorological Administration, Daejeon, South Korea

Correspondence to: † ohjungmi@pusan.ac.kr

Citation Oh, J. M. & Son, H. S. (2025). Weather Sensitivity to Clothing Expenditure in Two Climate Zones in South Korea. International Journal of Costume and Fashion, 25(1), 71-85.

Abstract

The fashion industry must adapt to increasingly unpredictable weather events caused by climate change. Accurate demand forecasting is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. This study examines the influence of key weather factors on seasonal clothing expenditures in Seoul and Busan, South Korea utilizing both weather and economic data from 2010 to 2022. Hierarchical regression analysis is used to examine the impact of these weather factors on clothing expenditures for each season. The findings indicate that clothing expenditures vary significantly by season. The clothing sentiment index has a positive impact on expenditures across all seasons. While clothing expenditure in spring and winter shows only minor sensitivity to weather changes, temperature fluctuations in summer and fall have a more significant impact. Consumers in Seoul are sensitive to variations in relative humidity during summer, while those in Busan show no significant relationship between relative humidity and their purchasing behavior. Additionally, clothing expenditure in Seoul is more sensitive to changes in the wet bulb globe temperature compared to those in Busan. This study carries important practical implications, offering the potential for more accurate demand forecasting and improved business decision-making within the fashion industry.

Keywords:

Clothing expenditure, Clothing price index, Clothing sentiment index, Weather sensitivity

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea and the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF-2021S1A5B5A16077490).

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