Functional Intimate Apparel

Tuesday 9^th September 2008

Lesson Two

The aim of today’s lesson was to look at an example of functional intimate apparel. In our case we were looking at Maternity Support garments. To begin our research we looked at the initial request. We familiarized ourselves with the customer’s needs and looked into why a support garment might be needed. To help us understand how it would feel to be pregnant we had a fake belly that we could strap on. I found it really interesting and standing for only a few minutes started to make my back ache! Back pain was the main area of discomfort that these garments are trying to relieve. To investigate the design situation we reviewed a number of articles and literature, looking at patents, pain relief strategies and reasons for back pain. Using research from the internet, shop visits and pamphlets we were able to look at what garments are available and which are the most successful. We decided there were 5 main themes that needed to be considered when designing a new garment. These were

• Comfort (thermal, moisture, pressure, tactile.)
• Aesthitics (design, colour)
• Support (pain, fatuigue)
• Mobility
• Convenience to wear.

Through fit testing current garments we were able to identify the main problems with them which we could try and overcome with our own design. These included

• Poor quality
• Bulky seams
• Restrictive
• Too thick
• Irritating

For homework we were asked to design our own support garment in order to solve these problems.

1. Initial Request – Doctors are finding pregnant women to be suffering from lower back pain. Prescribing drugs is not recommended for pregnant women and the women find little time in order to do exercises that may train the muscles.
2. Design Situation – Maternity Shops looking at existing products such as support belts. Looking into why these are not satisfactory.
3. Design Problem – How can this be helped? Interview the doctor/pregnant women/midwife for different views and personal responses.
4. Design Specification – What specific requirements are needed? A garment that helps to reduce lower back pain and that isn’t too hot to wear.
5. Design criteria – Performance required. To what extend should the fabric be breathable?
6. Prototype Development – The make up, pattern and materials used for the garments. Technical Specification Sheets.
7. Prototype Evaluation – Wear trail and function test. Does it achieve what it set out to?

1. Initial Request – No comfortable or supportive sports bras available particularly for the larger busted women.
2. Design Situation – Breast  discomfort/ experienced pain during exercise/ irreversible breakdown of breast tissue.
3. Design Problem – Survey/Questionnaire to evaluate users perceptions of fit and performance. Directed both in person and on the internet so that it was not bias.
4. Design Specification – Good upward support/ limit breast movement/ cups specifically need to fit.
5. Design criteria – constructed from non-elastic materials that are not allergenic or abrasive/ Have good moisture management/ Provide flattering look/ Facilitate thermal comfort
6. Prototype Development – Bra combined encapsulating inner bra with a compression style outer/ Used high modulus knit fabric/ wide non-adjustable straps/ Fabrics with good moisture management/ wide underband and adjustable back closure.
7. Prototype Evaluation – Used design criteria and specification. In controlled environment laboratory wear tested. 2 methods to access and compare support and thermal comfort.