Journal of Fashion Business Vol. 12, No. 3, pp.99~115(2008) Aesthetic Characteristic Study on Sportswear Uniform+ - Concentrating on Sportswear Uniform Applying Ensign Image- Kan, Ho-Sup․ Kim, Tae-Hee＊ Professor. Dept. of Textile Art and Fashion Design, Hongik University M.F.A course, Fashion Design, Graduate School, Hongik University＊ Abstract International exchange gets active in nations with the increase of Internet use and heading toward digital age. Thus the communication conveying image of nations effectively plays an important role in an international society. Sports events are regarded as important international exchange events and good opportunities for public relations of one's own country and taken as tools of planting good images in other nations. This study surveyed the concept and history of uniform through the documents and previous studies in order to find the aesthetic characteristics of sportswear uniform applying the image of national ensign and investigates the origin and start time in Korea of selected 6 sports items. As a result of finding the expression way of ensign image and drawing the aesthetic characteristics by analyzing the use and variation of ensign colors, the use of colors other than ensign and reflection of ensign form in collected 60 sports uniforms, this study could draw the symbolical beauty, beauty of variation and beautyof brevity. First, symbolical beauty is the aesthetic characteristics expressing uniforms by using the pattern ensign symbolizes and ensign colors themselves or enlarging a part of ensign. Second, beauty of variation is the aesthetic characteristics creating geometrical new patterns in uniform through the distortion and exaggeration of ensign shape, or transforming the colors themselves of ensign. Third, beauty of brevity is the aesthetic characteristics using other colors only as decorative factor while applying the main colors of ensign to the most part of uniform, or unifying the uniforms with only one color of ensign. As a result of survey, the proportion of the symbolical beauty was highest insummer season and beauty of brevity and beauty of variation followed and the proportion of beauty of variation was highest and the symbolical beauty and beauty of brevity followed after that in winter season. This study found the way of expressing image of one's own country in sports uniform through this article, expecting the exact recognition on sports uniform and the diversity of sports uniform design in which the images of the nation are expressed more variously. Key Words : sportswear uniform, symbolical beauty, beauty of variation, beauty of brevity +This report was supported by the campus research expenses of the Hongik University in 2007. Corresponding author; Kan, Ho-Sup, Tel.+82--11-210-4138 , Fax.+82-2-793-3242 E-mail: [email protected] 99 Journal of Fashion Business Vol.12, No.3 I. Introduction uniform should be efficient one that reflects and considers those. 1. Object The object of this study is to find the way to express ensign images and aesthetic characteristics International exchange gets active in nations by case analysis of uniforms for athletes in with the increase of Internet use and heading various international sporting events. toward digital age. Thus the communication conveying image of nations effectively plays an 2. Arrange and Method of Study important role in an international society, several countries shows their attitude to be more This study defined sportswear uniforms as positive to promote their own nations. Sports group clothes that are wore by athletes at events are also regarded as important international various kinds sports games or international exchange events and good opportunities for sports competitions and separated summer public relations of one's own country and taken season and winter season, researched, and then as tools of planting good images in other limited uniforms of summer season sports to nations. soccer sportswear uniforms, volleyball sportswear Development of sportswear uniform design is uniform and baseball sportswear uniform. Among more important because “2011 Daegu Athletic uniforms of winter season sports, this study Meeting” that will be opened in Korea and also limited it to short track skate sportswear the country obtained an opportunity to open uniforms, hockey sportswear uniforms and bobsleigh "2014 Incheon Asian Games“. As above, now sportswear uniforms. Thereasontochoose6 exchanges among countries are active. Sportswear sports as soccer, volleyball, baseball and ice uniforms to promote one's country are important hockey was that they are popular to the public because effective promotion of better national and have pro teams. And the reason to choose image influences on people and economy in one short track speed skate and bobsleigh was that country. the uniforms reflect ensign images the most. Man's dress and its ornaments not only played Among summer season sports, this study the basic role to protect body but also limitedsocceruniformstothosethatwereused symbolized identity in the past, now it shows for 2006 German World Cup that was the career and satisfies personal aesthetic desire. biggest international game opened the most Especially uniform among dresses and its recently. It researched volleyball uniforms for ornaments gives connectedness and identity to World Championship that was opened at Japan members, it can be said that uniform does the in 2006 and baseball uniforms for the athletes role to establish order in various, complex of 2006 World Baseball Classic. About all the society. Sportswear uniforms of the present time three sports in winter season, This study are not simply for sports game but also give the researchedtheuniformsthatwereworeby feeling of solidarity and used as important visual athletes in 2006 Torino Winter Olympic. medium to show and promote images of each To collect sportswear uniform images, this of the countries inside and outside, and also study searched images at http://www.torino2006. they have to express the symbol and idea of org, www.google.com and for summer sports. one's group well. So the design of sportswear Also this study did image searching at web sites 100 Kan, Ho-Sup․ Kim, Tae-Hee / Aesthetic Characteristic Study on Sportswear Uniform for competitions of each of the sports and as a mean to show individual relationships in a chose pictures that shows ensign images well. It group'3), Langner said 'Uniforms show off an designated 10 countries for each sport and individual or a group, it is a major mean to collected total 261 images. 70 images of transform the authority to the supreme power.'4) soccer, 33 images of volleyball, 32 images of In other words, uniforms gives the feeling of baseball, 46 images of short track speed skate, solidarity and a sense of unity, separate itself 42 images of ice hockey, and 38 images of with other groups, symbolize one's organization bobsleigh. This study chose 10 pictures for each and deliver independent idea and individual of the sports, total 60 pictures that show ensign character by letting wearers to wear one form or images clearly and the traits. samedressesanditsornaments, This study researched the concept of uniforms Josep and Alex said uniform has five and sportswear uniforms, the history by studying important functions. First, uniforms symbolize records, studies in past and found origins of 6 members of one's group and the trait allows the designated sports and the time of their members identify each other or force them to beginning in Korea. By analyzing use and do it. Second, uniform 'shows' or 'hides' the variation of colors from ensigns, use of other role at the same time. In other words, it delivers colors, reflection of the ensign shapes with 60 somebody's present role and hides information collected sportswear uniforms, this study found about all the other roles, especially the uniforms the way of expressing ensign images and in the army or prisons can be the examples. aesthetic characteristics. Third, uniform certify an individual as a member of a group, that is, it represent the group, and so it legalize the members' roles in given II. Concept and History of situations by giving responsibility about attitude Sportswear Uniforms for each persons. Fourth, uniform limits individuality by symbolizing that a person who 1. Concept and History of Uniforms wears is not an individual but a part of a group. Uniforms are certain form of clothes that are Fifth, uniform deals with problems of a group. made by certain standard. The etymology is a Because uniform forms a group system or compound word from unus and forma. It means unified awareness, it predicates symbolism and certain type of shape or outward look.1) Not like the symbolism not only express original idea and general free casual wears, it has a trait to have individuality of one's group but also affect on new shape or ornaments by the object. The the wearer's awareness much. So uniforms can archetype is shown from military uniforms, do the complete functions when it is performed official uniforms, religious clothes, uniforms for successfully in a whole environment, not only 5) ceremony, sports clothes for competition and when it simply performs the role. When a school uniforms.2) Roach and Eicher said the person wear a uniform, it symbolizes not only etymology of uniform is one form, all alike, it the person but the group that the person can be interpreted that it means one type of belongs to and shows the person's social shape, in other words, same dresses and its position, important role and duty are given. ornaments. Also they said 'Uniforms are made Externally, it symbolize organizations and deliver 101 Journal of Fashion Business Vol.12, No.3 the image of them, internally, encourage having different aspects with vulgar people. They chose good attitude at work and efficiency of labor. to be naked as an expression that they get off Also it makes a member to have rightful their clothes and give their bodies and souls to awareness about one's group, pride about one's the God and further, because they believed duty, one's attitude to keep the order and a beautiful body is given by the God.11) After the sense of responsibility about one's role.