[ Article ]

International Journal of Costume and Fashion - Vol. 26, No. 1, pp.1-16

ISSN: 2233-9051 (Print) 2288-7490 (Online)

Print publication date 30 Jun 2026

Received 25 Sep 2025 Revised 03 Feb 2026 Accepted 16 Feb 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7233/ijcf.2026.26.1.001

A Comparative Analysis of Vegan Fashion Design Features on Social Media in Korea and the United States

Sen Bin ; Choonho Nahm ; Haejung Yum^†

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Fashion Design, Guangzhou City University of Technology, China
Professor, Dept. of Sociology, Jeonbuk National University, South Korea
Professor, Dept. of Fashion Design, The Research Institute of Human Ecology, Jeonbuk National University, South Korea

Correspondence to: ^† yum3849@jbnu.ac.kr

Citation Bin, S., Nahm, C. H., & Yum, H. J. (2026). A comparative analysis of vegan fashion design features on social media in Korea and the United States. International Journal of Costume and Fashion, 26(1), 1-16

Abstract

This study explores vegan fashion in Korea and the United States through big data and content analysis, focusing on word and topic distribution on social media and their design implications. In Korea, words like “vegetable”, “cactus”, and “pineapple” were frequently used, reflecting vegan concepts, while paradoxically, terms like “duck fur” and “sheep leather” also appeared. In contrast, the United States discourse highlighted diverse product terms such as “dresses”, “sweaters”, and “leggings”. Topic modeling identified five themes: vegan fashion brands, eco-friendly practices, plant-based materials, animal ethics, and vegan consumption. In terms of design, both countries emphasized alternative plant-based materials over creativity. However, Korean vegan fashion favored casual items like t-shirts, cardigans, and skirts, blending basic silhouettes with trendy street-style aesthetics. American vegan fashion, by contrast, leaned toward sporty imagery with bold colors such as pink, green, and purple.

Keywords:

Vegan fashion, Korean fashion, American fashion, Text-mining analysis, Design features, Cultural differences

Acknowledgments

This paper is part of a doctoral dissertation.

I am very grateful to Choonho Nahm, and Haejung Yum for their insightful comments on this article. I particularly thank Professor Choonho Nahm for his valuable support in research methodology. I also thank the anonymous reviewers' and the editor's comments and suggestions to tighten up the argument. During the research and writing, I got the generous support from Jeonbuk National University and Guangzhou City University of Technology.

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