Design Preferences based on the Up-Cycling Stage of a Fashion Product : Focusing on Gen Z Consumers and Re;Code Products

As sustainability has emerged as a key issue in the fashion industry, upcycling is expected to play a pivotal role in future sustainable design. Accordingly, this study analyzed the design of fashion products that can enhance their value by reproducing them using stock products or stock fabrics through upcycling. For this purpose, the design of upcycled products by Re;code, a representative upcycling brand in Korea, was analyzed based on Lee and DeLong’s Re-birth stage. Additionally, to understand the design preferences of Generation Z consumers, Re;code products were classified into four concepts: minimal, sporty, feminine, and unique. The results showed that minimalist fashion designs with upcycling value can be perceived as new by Gen Z consumers. The findings of the conceptual and step-by-step analysis revealed that Gen Z’s actual purchase of upcycled fashion products is more influenced by the product’s concept than the upcycling stage.