Ergonomically Designed Adaptive Sari for An Elderly Woman

Abstract

The sari is a traditional garment cherished for its elegance and cultural significance in South Asia. The process of sari draping involves several repetitive movements, such as pleating, tucking, and securing the pallu (loose end), which can strain muscles and joints, particularly in the shoulders, back, and hands for people with disabilities and elderly with arthritis or reduced mobility. By integrating ergonomic principles into sari design and draping techniques, designers and practitioners can mitigate physical strain and enhance ease of use. This includes considerations of various factors like fabric selection, garment weight distribution, and the incorporation of adaptive features like magnetic closures or pre-stitched pleats. Adaptive clothing plays a crucial role in improving the quality of life for individuals facing physical disabilities, cognitive impairments, or age-related challenges. The primary objective of adaptive clothing is to enhance comfort, promote independence, and facilitate daily activities that conventional clothing may delay. This paper explores the application of ergonomics principles to sari draping, aiming to improve comfort, efficiency, and accessibility for elderly woman with physical limitations and developing new sari design. The study is focused on one individual client since adaptive sari is purely customized product. The category chosen for design development was evening wear for her grand daughter’s wedding. The client’s measurements, problems faced, requirements were noted and adaptive sari with blouse were designed and developed for the selected client. Feedback of the developed adaptive sari was obtained and recorded. A time study and the degree of difficulty in dressing were also conducted to know about the dressing time and the client found these developed adaptive clothing was very effective and helpful.