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.
