CLOTHING NEEDS, FABRIC PREFERENCES, AND DESIGN FEATURES FOR COMFORTABLE AND FUNCTIONAL APPAREL FOR ELDERLY WOMEN IN ORUMBA SOUTH LGA, ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study investigated the clothing needs, fabric preferences, and design features for developing comfortable and functional apparel for elderly women in Orumba South LGA, Anambra State, Nigeria, as part of a larger Research and Development project. The survey design involved 590 participants: 370 elderly women, 20 Clothing and Textiles lecturers, and 200 garment constructors. Instruments included the Comfortable Clothing Needs Assessment Questionnaire and Observation Checklist. Reliability Cronbach's Alpha coefficients were 0.772 and 0.694 (the latter acknowledged as acceptable for exploratory research). Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Findings revealed elderly women experience challenges with mobility, dressing ease, and thermal comfort. Key activities influencing clothing needs included walking to community gatherings (mean=3.72), attending church meetings (mean=3.70), and sitting for long periods (mean=3.65). Preferred clothing types were loose-fitting boubou with front zip (mean=3.78), kaftan gown with side pockets (mean=3.70), and two-piece wrapper with Velcro fasteners (mean=3.66). Essential fabric characteristics included softness (mean=3.78), breathability (mean=3.82), lightweight properties (mean=3.71), and local affordability (mean=3.80). Critical design features included front openings (mean=3.80), loose-fitting designs (mean=3.82), Velcro fasteners (mean=3.77), and wider armholes (mean=3.76). The study concludes that elderly women's clothing must prioritize comfort, ease of dressing, and cultural appropriateness. Recommendations include integrating geriatric clothing design into Home Economics curricula and encouraging local garment producers to adopt user-centered design approaches.