Purpose-This paper aims to explore the personalities of sportswear brands and their relationship to brand equity using Aaker's methodology in the context of sportswear brands. Design/methodology/approach-This paper used Aaker's brand personality framework to empirically investigate the personality of sportswear brands and the impact of brand personality on brand equity based on data collected from 420 college students. Findings-Results revealed that the personality of sportswear brands can be described in seven dimensions and 53 personality traits: competence, attractiveness, sincerity, innovation, activity, excitement and ruggedness. The study identified that four dimensions among all the seven personality dimensions, namely, competence, attractiveness, Sincerity and innovation, are the positive and significant contributing factors to the creation and enhancement of sportswear brand equity. Originality/value-This study makes an important contribution to the understanding of brand personality and brand equity in the context of sportswear brands. It confirmed that consumers do associate particular brand personality dimensions with sportswear brands, and certain dimensions of brand personality have a direct impact on brand equity. The study showed that not all brand personality dimensions have the same influence in increasing the value of a sportswear brand from a consumer perspective, some dimensions being more efficient than others. The findings provide insights as to what dimensions of brand personality would deliver the best result in today's competitive sportswear market.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the factors affecting consumer's fast fashion brand loyalty by examining US college students' perceptions and loyalty toward fast fashion. Design/methodology/approach Using consumer-based brand equity approach, a research model which examines the factors affecting consumer's brand loyalty in the fast fashion context was proposed. It was hypothesized that consumer's perceptions of fast fashion, including brand awareness, perceived quality, perceived value, brand personality, organizational associations, and brand uniqueness, affect consumer brand loyalty. Based on the valid data from 419 US college students, this study employed structural equation modeling to investigate the factors affecting US college students' brand loyalty toward fast fashion. Findings Results reveal that for the US college students, brand awareness, perceived value, organizational associations, and brand uniqueness are the contributing factors to generating consumer's loyalty toward fast fashion brands. Originality/value Due to the fact that fast fashion has become a key feature of the global fashion industry over the last decade, there is phenomenal growth in the availability of fast fashion brands in the US markets. This study provides valuable insights about young consumers' perceptions of fast fashion brands and the factors' contributions to their brand loyalty.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand US and Chinese young Millennials’ perceptions of and consumption behaviour towards sustainable apparel products. Design/methodology/approach Quantitative research was conducted, and empirical data were collected from 590 US college students and 379 Chinese college students. Findings For both US and Chinese young Millennials, this study provides consistent empirical results of the positive and significant effects of young Millennials’ apparel sustainability knowledge and personal values on consumer attitude towards sustainable clothing, which in turn positively and strongly impacts purchase intention. In addition, a cross-cultural comparative analysis reveals similarities and differences regarding apparel sustainability knowledge and values between young Millennial consumers in the US and China. Originality/value The scale of environmental and social impacts from global apparel production and consumption makes sustainability increasingly important in the contemporary business environment. Young Millennials in the US and China represent large and influential consumer segments for sustainable consumption. This study contributes to the literature by surveying young Millennials in the US (developed market) and China (emerging market) in a cross-cultural context. The study offers insights into the global apparel industry in developing strategies for expanding sustainable apparel markets in the US and China.

strategic sourcing's influences in this important industry provides many valuable implications for industrial practitioners.

This research investigates the key causal linkages in supply chain management—the impact of strategic sourcing and supplier selection on firm performance in the U.S. textile—apparel—retail supply network. A conceptual framework was developed and the empirical survey-based research methodology was used to gather data from the U.S. textile—apparel—retail complex. The data collection resulted in 181 responses, representing a 38.2% response rate. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the research model and test the research hypotheses. The research findings support that strategic sourcing has a significant and positive effect on business performance, and supplier selection has a significant and positive effect on the firm's ability to gain competitive advantages. The research concludes with implications, limitations, and directions for future research.

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This study employed Aaker's brand personality framework to empirically investigate the personality of denim jeans brands and to examine the impact of brand personality on consumer satisfaction and brand loyalty based on data collected from 474 college students. Results revealed that the personality of denim jeans brands can be described in six dimensions with 51 personality traits: attractiveness, practicality, ruggedness, flexibility, friendliness, and honesty. The results indicated that consumers associate particular brand personality dimensions with denim jeans brands. Also, the various dimensions of brand personality have different effects on consumer satisfaction and consumer brand loyalty.

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