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Inclusive Design in Apparel Product Development for Working Women With Physical Disabilities
Author(s) -
Carroll Kate E.,
Kincade Doris H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
family and consumer sciences research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 1077-727X
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x07299675
Subject(s) - clothing , product (mathematics) , variety (cybernetics) , new product development , inclusion (mineral) , universal design , business , qualitative research , marketing , product design , focus group , production (economics) , work (physics) , psychology , computer science , engineering , sociology , economics , world wide web , mechanical engineering , social psychology , social science , geometry , mathematics , macroeconomics , archaeology , artificial intelligence , history
Consumers with physical limitations want apparel products and retail environments that work for them. Inclusive design is a framework for developing products to satisfy multiple consumers, regardless of their physical ability. This qualitative study reports on physical limitations and apparel preferences of working women ( n = 9) with a variety of limitations. A prototype for a garment was developed, wear‐tested, and evaluated using inclusive design criteria. Subsequently, manufacturers ( n = 6) were interviewed regarding production and distribution within the existing system. Results indicate that (a) the effect of disability on the body supercedes clinical definition for apparel product development, (b) working women with various disabilities have similar apparel needs, (c) inclusive design can be a successful strategy for product development, and (d) current industry perceptions about disability present the greatest barrier to successful implementation. The researchers conclude that further studies should focus on industry “buy‐in” of inclusive design as a framework for product development.