Design and Product Development

Mapping the Clothing Taskscape: Apparel Needs in Rehabilitation Therapy

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Abstract

Clothing is a fundamental part of our material culture; it is designed, manufactured, worn, washed, and eventually discarded (Miller, 2005). Dressing—the act of putting on and taking off clothes—is an activity that is taken for granted until the balance and synchronized movements required to do so are lost due to illness, injury, disease, or surgery. Clothing is not frivolous; its selection provides a means of managing self-image (e.g., Entwistle, 2001), communicating messages to others (e.g., Hethorn & Kaiser, 1998), and influencing individuals’ behaviour (e.g., Adam & Galinsky, 2012). Functional design prioritizes people’s expectations and preferences to create clothing that enhances performance (Lamb & Kallal, 1992; Rosenblad-Wallin, 1985), and this requires an effective means of assessing user needs. People in rehabilitation therapy (RT) have a complex relationship with their clothing, yet few researchers have investigated apparel needs within this context.

How to Cite:

Tullio-Pow, S. R., (2017) “Mapping the Clothing Taskscape: Apparel Needs in Rehabilitation Therapy”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 74(1).