About

Kate Annett-Hitchcock is listed as Professor Emeritus at the Wilson College of Textiles at North Carolina State University. The page does not provide specific details about her research focus, background, or key contributions.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Political Science
• Artificial Intelligence
• Business
• Marketing
• Social psychology
• Industrial organization
• Mathematics
• Psychology
• Advertising
• Operations management
• Statistics
• Engineering
• Economic growth
• Geography
• Economics

Selected publications

• Assessing the impact of multisensory attributes of Textile-based Assistive Devices (TADs) on the experiences of end-users

  Journal of Textile Engineering & Fashion Technology · 2023-09-07

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Researchers have defined and measured functional attributes of assistive devices, yet there are multiple dimensions of a device worn temporarily or for life that remain unexamined. The purpose of this study was to explore how the sensory attributes of assistive devices impact consumers in order to build a foundation for a holistic approach to product development. Two online surveys targeting wearers of textile-based assistive devices (TADs) (n=29) and caregivers (n=8) were used for data collection. Survey questions related to sensory experiences (visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory) and describe how device usage and purchasing was impacted. Results suggest that multisensory experiences of users and caregivers involve more complexity than functionality alone. Multisensory effects were diverse in both groups. Some expressed a desire for their device to be more visible and expressive, while others chose not to use, expressing fear of judgment based on visibility. Insight into multisensory aesthetics and how design can be used to conceal, reveal, or provide opportunities for self-expression, as well as avoid embarrassment for the wearer, will help designers understand how assistive devices can be improved and developed to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. Findings suggest that existing measures of success should include questions about sensory attributes.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• The Intersection of Fashion and Disability

  Bloomsbury Publishing Plc eBooks · 2023-01-01 · 6 citations

  book1st authorCorresponding

  <JATS1:p>The history of the fashion industry has been well written as it relates to people who conform to certain physical norms and cultural stereotypes, whereas the inequality in access to the world of fashion has been largely ignored. Despite this lack of coverage, much work has taken place over the centuries to enable people who live with disability to participate in fashionable culture. This book tells that story via perspectives of notable historical figures, events and movements, and continues the discourse with a look at some of the contemporary developments in clothing and fashion.</JATS1:p> <JATS1:p>The Intersection of Fashion and Disability takes the long view, from early attempts to conceal ‘unsightly’ bodies of royalty and nobility via creative innovation right through to growing contemporary awareness of inclusive fashion and looking to how future work might be driven by new technology and cultural acceptance.</JATS1:p>

  PublisherDOI

• On Being a Female Entrepreneur in the Arts: Comparative Experiences

  Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education · 2022-06-07

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  The objective of this essay is to explore being female, being an artist and being an en- trepreneur. To offer context, I will take the liberty of briefly outlining my experiences with all three, since I am not an arts entrepreneurship educator in the formal sense.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Consumer perceptions and concerns regarding aesthetic attributes of textile-based assistive devices: a qualitative analysis of online retail product reviews

  Research Journal of Textile and Apparel · 2022 · 6 citations

  • Psychology
  • Advertising
  • Marketing

  Purpose The purpose of this paper was to examine consumer perceptions of aesthetic attributes of textile-based assistive devices (ADs) and the language used by consumers to express those perceptions and concerns. Previous investigations of user feedback for ADs have largely focused on functional attributes rather than aesthetics. Design/methodology/approach An interpretivist research philosophy was selected to investigate the meaning behind consumer perceptions and to understand their viewpoints on the aesthetic dimensions of ADs. Using product reviews for two ADs sold on Amazon.com as data, the researchers conducted qualitative data analysis through coding and interpretation of meanings behind reviews to determine consumers’ perceptions related to their ADs. Findings The authors identified consumer concerns linking to aesthetics evidenced as a multisensory integration of visual, tactile and olfactory cues. Consumer-preferred language used to address aesthetic preferences was found to supplement the literature. Aesthetic considerations were found to be impactful on avoiding stigma and encouraging or discouraging continued use of the devices. Practical implications Findings may contribute to the development of textile-based ADs with improved aesthetics to enhance user experiences. New ways of using consumer language to interpret user needs may assist in future research and design practice for consumer products. Originality/value The use of consumer product reviews as a rich source of user data is discussed in this paper. As previous research on assistive technology has largely focused on functionality, results of this analysis offer insight into consumers’ aesthetic judgments related to ADs and bring a sensory perspective to the research area.

  PublisherDOI

• The Impact of Imprisonment on the Relationship Between Clothing and Identity of Incarcerated People

  Breaking Boundaries · 2022-09-23 · 1 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  <span id="docs-internal-guid-621c78cb-7fff-1a33-e31c-fc37d7cb40fe"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are currently 2.3 million incarcerated people in the US, many of whom are required to wear government-issued clothing while imprisoned. This research incorporated a phenomenological approach to explore the impact of imprisonment on the relationship between clothing and identity of incarcerated people. To answer this question, n=15 formerly incarcerated people were interviewed using open-ended questions about their experience as it related to clothing worn while imprisoned. Results showed that participants use clothing as a vehicle for re-humanization after release. It was found that formerly incarcerated people gravitate towards comfortable clothing after release instead of dressing to impress others as they did prior to incarceration. Additionally, it was revealed that participants noticed a shift in their level of material satisfaction after release. Results from this study may also encourage future research concerning social conditions and rehabilitation in corrections, including institutional clothing.</span><br> </span>

  PublisherDOI

• Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in the Textile and Apparel Industry

  Breaking Boundaries · 2022-09-18

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;, serif; background-image: initial; background-position: initial; background-size: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial;">TheTextile and Apparel Industry comprises complex networks that include design,production, and distribution. Entrepreneurial ecosystem research examines howregions' social, cultural, political, and economic structures can impactbusiness success. These factors plus other connected actors can be developed insuch a way that can create productive entrepreneurship within an area.Ecosystem mapping research can help small businesses, support organizations,and other network actors identify opportunities and constraints within themicro and macro entrepreneur ecosystems (Vedula &amp; Kim, 2019). The purposeof this paper is to introduce the ecosystem research approach in the global Textileand Apparel Industry with a focus and call to action in the following areas:Public Policy and Government Support, Human Capital, Sustainability andResources.</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi"><o:p></o:p></span>

  PublisherDOI

• A Virtual Reality (VR) Apparel Design Exhibition: Exploring Students’ Experiences During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  Innovate to Elevate · 2022-12-28

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  <span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">This study aimed to explore a) students’ experiences of showcasing their apparel design work through a VR design exhibition and b) students’ experiences of viewing a VR design exhibition during the pandemic.&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">In this study, both designers’ and viewers’ experiences of a 3D VR design exhibition created using Mozilla Hubs was examined. Through the 3Denvironment, viewers were able to “walk around” a gallery to view apparel designs, posters, and videos and to “interact with each other” in the gallery room (e.g., using the chat function and a personal avatar).&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;mso-fareast-font-family:AdvOT1ef757c0;color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">The presentation of this study includes visual examples of a VR apparel design exhibition and effective strategies for disseminating students’ apparel artifacts through a 3D virtual platform.&nbsp;</span>

  PublisherDOI

• A retrospect on the US apparel industry: expert predictions and reality data

  Research Journal of Textile and Apparel · 2021 · 4 citations

  Senior authorCorresponding
  • Computer Science
  • Political Science
  • Artificial Intelligence

  Purpose In 1978, the once powerful US apparel industry was on the cusp of change, and the consulting firm KSA conducted a Delphi survey of apparel executives’ predictions into the 2000s. The purpose of this paper is to compare actual changes over the subsequent decades with these 1978 expert predictions and explore the accuracy/inaccuracy of these “educated guesses” (KSA, 1978, p. 1). Design/methodology/approach The chorographic method was used to analyze the report and document historical data. Chorography is “concerned with significance of place, regional characterization, [and] local history […]” (Rohl, 2012, p.1) and includes contextual settings and researcher input. Primary data were examined during each decade and included: industry literature, government documents and labor data. The researchers used content analysis to reduce and organize data. Findings Findings cover three decades of Southeast US apparel industry data including imports, employment, number of plants, size of plants and productivity. Predictions were inaccurate about imports, predicted to be minor in comparison with domestic production, which they actually surpassed. Predicted decrease in employment was similar to actual decrease but reasons were inaccurate. Change in number and size of plants were over-predicted and under-predicted. Reasons given by experts were automation and government intervention; in actuality, limited automation occurred with insignificant impact in contrast to outsourcing, which decimated employment in US plants. Steady increase in productivity was predicted when productivity often decreased. Originality/value Previous studies focus on the textile sector; studies of the apparel sector tend to be regional or topical. This study is more expansive and provides insight into predictions and changes made in the US apparel industry at a critical time in its near demise. With the current climate of global change and increased market uncertainty, insights from this study may provide direction for rethinking of the domestic apparel industry for the USA and other developed countries.

  PublisherDOI

• On Being a Female Entrepreneur in the Arts: Comparative Experiences

  Journal of Arts Entrepreneurship Education · 2020-10-16

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  This essay explores some of the issues facing female arts entrepreneurs by establishing findings from research data and comparing these findings with the experiences of two established international women artists from the culinary world and contemporary music, respectively. Themes such as revenue inequality, struggles by women to find and maintain venture capital and the dilemma of how to label women in the arts are joined by emerging conversations about the role of art in business, the importance of giving and receiving support, the dilemma of balancing family life, especially with partners who are also artistically engaged, and the role of motherhood. Implications and recommendations for further discussions in arts entrepreneurship education are provided as channels for change.

  PublisherDOI

• Entrepreneurship Group Creates Community, Shares Stories and Supports Female Students

  2020-12-28

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  This paper describes the development and growth of advocacy group, the Advancement of Women Entrepreneurs at NC State University. An action-oriented, programmatic support group, which tackles these issues and provides building blocks towards an equitable startup experience. The mission is to support students wishing to explore entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking in a safe, supportive and non-competitive atmosphere. “X” sits within a university-wide entrepreneurship alliance; a collaborative system that supports, promotes, and advances a culture of entrepreneurship throughout the university community. The alliance itself is part of an academic/community co-working space that fosters inclusive entrepreneurial experiences through shared makerspaces, creating sustainable social and economic impact. The purpose of the paper is to provide insights into best practices that have emerged from the program for female student engagement, strong community creation and development of relevant programming topics.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Kate Nartker

  5 shared

• S M Azizul Hoque

  North Carolina State University

  4 shared

• Anne Porterfield

  North Carolina State University

  2 shared

• Dylan Dakota Batch

  North Central State College

  2 shared

• Chanmi Hwang

  North Central State College

  2 shared

• Elizabeth P. Easter

  1 shared

• Andre West

  North Carolina State University

  1 shared

• Timothy Buie

  1 shared

Education

• PhD, Apparel, Housing and Resource Management

  Virginia Tech

  2002

• MA, Clothing and Textiles

  Michigan State University

  1991

• BA Hons, Art History

  University of Manchester

  1987