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Design and prototype of semi-formal clothing for women with sensory issues
Research suggests that up to 16.5% percentage of the UK population is affected by sensory issues. Furthermore, there is a strong correlation between Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) with over 90% of autistic individuals reporting significant sensory issues. With the increase of 787% in recorded ASD diagnoses in the UK between 1998 and 2018, the topic of sensory issues calls for our attention. Experiencing them can lead to irritation, confusion, lack of focus, or even self-harm. This paper is devoted to the analysis of the currently available clothing products for people with sensory issues and recognizing existing lack of solutions. Analysis of the current state on the market helped to determine important properties that should be included in sensory-friendly design. Moreover, it allowed us to pinpoint the gap in current products such as a complete lack of formal or semi-formal clothing. As a result, a design of semi-formal shirt for an adult woman experiencing sensory issues was prepared. In the developed clothing product, some innovative solutions were applied such as increased width of seam allowance, hidden fidget, printed tag in a QR form, magnetic fastening of the shirt cuffs, and others to meet the needs of potential users. The prototype of the shirt was made from a soybean protein fiber (SPF) / viscose woven fabric. Recommendations for further development of the product and future research of the topic are also discussed.