Systems approach to clothing for disabled users. Why is it difficult for disabled users to find suitable clothing.
Today's clothing market is not adapted for people with unusual body dimensions and/or different kinds of functional impairments. They will be referred to as disabled users. The method of user-oriented product development combined with the soft systems methodology has been applied in order to understand and possibly solve their problem. Sixty five disabled users were interviewed. The results show that the disabled users must be divided into subgroups. Their requirements are very much dependent on their impairment not only regarding the fit and function of the clothing, but also regarding shopping and service in the stores. The symbolic values of clothing are just as important as the functional values. However, it is essential not to focus on the end product only, but to look at the problem as a system consisting of: manufacturing, marketing and end use. A new method of taking three dimensional measurements from range images of the human body has been developed. In combination with other developments in information technology it will be possible to synthesise a new system where the manufacturers and retailers of clothing can co-operate in order to give service to disabled users.
Thorén
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Department of Consumer Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, S-412 96 Goteborg, Sweden.