The purpose of this paper is to explore definitional ambiguity of apparel product quality from the perspectives of apparel producers. Constructs for a grounded theory of apparel product quality were synthesized from in-depth interviews of 47 apparel production managers and operators in a large U.S. tailored clothing company. Quality represented value that was portrayed through three major constructs: structural integrity, aesthetic presence, and the power of appeal. European tailoring techniques emerged as strong determinants of the informants' cultural identity with apparel quality.
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