• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.209-219
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• 2019

This study analyzed and compared wearer mobility for different types of clothing that also included the potential to develop firefighter station uniforms using range of motion (ROM) and electromyography (EMG). This study focused on a comparison of wearer mobility affected by different materials and shapes of the station uniforms worn under firefighter turnout gear. Japanese standard uniform (UNI), stretch-wear (ST), and compression-wear (CP) were used as station uniforms for the experiment. This study analyzed wearer movements and quantified ROM and EMG. In addition, the subjective evaluation of wearer mobility and comfort were assessed for comparisons. Nine healthy male students participated in the experiment. Wearer mobility was analyzed using ROM and EMG data obtained by measuring five motions; in addition, subjective evaluations were also obtained. As compared with the standard station uniform, ROM increased 6.8 % and 7.2 % due to stretch-wear and compression-wear. The benefits of wearing stretch material or compression material to improve muscle performance (such as reduced percent of maximum voluntary contraction) were not proven. Differences between materials and designs influenced subjective wearer comfort. In particular, the wearing of compression materials was shown best in terms of wearer comfort that may also allow greater wearer mobility.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.145-159
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• 2011

The study aimed to analyze the status quo of manufacturing work environment and the work clothes' clothing comfort and wearer mobility of welding and grinding work processes in the machine and shipbuilding industries in South Korea. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the study, which consisted of questions about work clothes' clothing comfort and wearer mobility according to body parts. The findings derived from the research were: the high impact levels of work environment factors on welding and grinding work processes were noise, metal fragment, superheat, toxic gas, UV ray factors. Subject workers' assessment of work clothes' clothing pressures were in the levels between 3 (i.e. moderate) and 4 (i.e. comfortable) in a range of 5-point scale. The impact levels of wearer mobility factor were high on the work processes of welding and grinding in machine and grinding in shipbuilding. While welding process in shipbuilding showed a 'moderate' wearer mobility level and this was because its work postures were uncomfortable yet the rate of the motion change was low. The consideration to develop the work clothes specialized for certain work processes should include the materials' protecting performance from the hazardous work environment factors; and work clothes' designs that provides workers with maximized clothing comfort and wearer mobility for bending or tilting postures of upper, lower and lateral body parts defined in the study.

• Journal of Fashion Business
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.13-31
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• 2012

The purpose of the study was to analyze the work clothes' clothing comfort and wearer mobility of painting workers with the consideration of the work environment features in the machine and shipbuilding industries in South Korea. A questionnaire survey was conducted for the study, which consisted of questions on the clothing comfort and wearer mobility aspects of painting work clothes by clothes types and body parts. The work clothes' clothing comfort and wearer mobility levels were scaled in 5 points i.e. 1(: very tight/very uncomfortable) to 5(: very slack/very comfortable). The painting work environmental hazardous features were considered as high impact levels of workplace temperature, oxygen deficiency, organic solvent, toxic gas factors while metal fragment factor only impacts 'low' in the painting processes with the findings throughout this study. Since the painting work consisted of surface washing and the spray and touch-up painting processes, which was carried out in an outdoor work place, the painting work clothes should meet high performance of waterproofing from the painting material and air permeability specially in summer as well as thermal performance in winter. The subjects painting workers' assessment of the existing work clothes' clothing oppression was in the levels between 3 (i.e. moderate) and 4 (i.e. comfortable) in a range of 1 to 5 points. The existing painting work clothes' wearer mobility was evaluated 'very uncomfortable' in all work clothes parts, especially, armhole length, biacromial breadth, sleeve length of the jumper; and body rise, waist, hip, thigh and knee circumferences of the pants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.61 no.9
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• pp.97-113
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• 2011

To develop the work clothes for the employees in the mechatronics industry in South Korea, a questionnaire survey on many aspects of the work clothes such as type, color, detailed design and function preference of the subject employees has been carried out in the study. The results throughout the survey highlighted certain functions such as extensibility, thermal and air permeability of importance for the work clothing performance. To improve the discomfort caused by some work motions (i.e. squatting down, ascending/descending the stairs, raising arms), more allowances were given to the measurements (i.e. body rise + 2cm and crotch depth + 1cm for squatting down pose; thigh circumference + 1cm and knee circumference + 1cm for ascending/ descending the stairs pose; chest circumference + 5~6cm and jumper length to the level of hip circumference line for raising arms pose) for work clothes patternmaking. The evaluation of the two types of spring/summer and winter work clothes' clothing comfort and wearer mobility suggested certain points to improve the clothing performance (e.g. ventilation slits on the back pleats, arm pits and collar band of the spring/summer suit using net material and lining for the winter suit using quilted thermal materials) and wearer mobility (e.g. pants hem buckles for the easy work motion), which also enabled to fulfill the workers' work clothes design preference.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.553-561
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• 2008

The purpose of this research was to analyze the relationship between the ease of crotch depth and the mobility of leg movement. Ten Korean men were participated as subjects and 0. 3, 6cm of crotch ease were inserted for test clothes. To analyze objectively, range-of-motion of four selected movements was measured by Leighton flexometer and goniometer. Also. wearer acceptability rating was measured for subjectively investigation. Anova and Duncan's range tests were used for statistical analysis. According to the results, 3cm of crotch ease was most comfortable. The mobility of test clothes with 3cm crotch ease was improved largely in every test movement(16.2% and 16.6% in segittal plane, and 6.1% and 6.2% in frontal motion).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.1181-1189
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• 2009

This research analyzes the relationship between the height of the sleeve cap and the mobility of arm movement. Ten Korean women participated as subjects. For test clothes, the AH/4+3, AH/4+1, and AH/4-1 height of the sleeve cap were varied. The sleeve circumference was adjusted according to the variation of the height of the sleeve cap. To analyze test clothing objectively, the range-of-motion of two selected movements (Arm Adduction/Abduction and Arm Flexion/Extension) was measured by Leighton flexometer and goniometer. Also, a wearer acceptability rating was examined for acceptance by the subject. Anova and Duncan's multiple range tests are used for statistical analysis. According to the results, the mobility of test clothing 2 and 3 improved 14.9% and 27.7% in Arm Adduction/Abduction, and 12.7% and 31.9% in Arm Flexion/Extension compared to the test clothing 1.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.123-136
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• 2024

This study aimed to assess the mobility and thermal comfort of personal protective equipment (PPE) among female healthcare workers, taking into account wearers' physique and PPE protection levels. A total of 16 participants (age: 26.3 ± 8.3 y, height: 161.5 ± 7.3 cm, body weight: 57.1 ± 11.0 kg, BMI: 21.9 ± 3.6), representing diverse body types, underwent four PPE conditions: L (Low_Plastic gown ensemble), M (Medium_Tyvek 400), H (High_Tyvek 800J with Powered Air Purifying Respirator [PAPR]), and E (Extremely high_Tychem 2000 with PAPR, Bib apron, and Chemical-resistant gloves). The mobility protocol consisted of 10 different tasks in addition to donning and doffing. The 10 tasks were repeated twice at an air temperature of 24.3 ± 0.1℃, 59±4%RH. Findings revealed a disproportionate relationship between PPE protection and wearer discomfort. Significant differences in clothing microclimate and total sweat rate were observed between the lowest (L) and highest (E) protection levels (p < 0.01), while distinctions among medium levels were inconclusive. Subjective evaluations favored conditions H and L over M and E (p < 0.05), indicating reduced heat, and humidity, increased comfort, and lower exertion. Instances of mobility discomfort, specially in the small body type group, underscored the need for a suitable PPE size system for Korean adult female medical workers. Furthermore, enhancements in gloves, shoe cover, and PAPR hood designs are essential for improving ease of movement and preventing hindrance.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.6-14
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to delve into what type of expression mode of fashion design could suit the life style of digital nomads, as the appearance of nomadic life style was concurrent with people's modified way of thinking and sociocultural changes in today's digital society. It's basically meant to define the roles of fashion design, which was discussed as a way of improving the quality of life as a sort of 'culture,' and to suggest some of the right directions for fashion design in the future. The culture of today's digital era is marked by a pursuit of high mobility and high speed, and by nomadic disposition that is built on flexible thinking. The kind of design that lets people carry nomadic things with them and thereby improve their mobility can satisfy their needs for mobility, and body-friendly design that functions as a device of information in itself can meet their needs for mobility as well. The leading example of the latter is a wearable computer, and wearable scientific technology will be taken to another level, thanks to the advance in digital technology. In the future, that will be more accessible to people in general, and subminiature digital equipment will gain popularity in fashion industry as part of textiles and clothing or as an accessory. And specific kinds of design will be widespread, including variable design, multi-functional design and modular design. The first serves as a tool to protect the human body and to facilitate the adaptability of it to the given circumstances, and the second is characterized by a superb physical and psychological protectability. The third lets wearers bring design to completion at their own option, owing to an increase in the number of open-minded people and the development of interactive media. All these types of design could be called a wearer-friendly, human-oriented design that is specifically appropriate for the digital age. Wearers can actively be involved in design process as productive consumers, which is expected to help increase opener practices in fashion design sector.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Clothing and Textiles
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• v.31 no.4 s.163
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• pp.531-539
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• 2007

The purpose of this article was to determine how the current auto mechanic's coverall restricts movements, to develop prototype coverall, and finally, to improve working efficiency. To investigate the problem and complaint of current coveralls, 35 mechanics were interviewed. Video captured method was used to analyze the representative movement. Based on the previous investigation, the prototype coverall was developed. Pleats and band were inserted on each side of the back, under the armhole, and the back waist area for flexibility. To analyze the mobility of current and prototype coveralls objectively, range-of-motion of selected movements was measured by Leighton flexometer and goniometer. Also, wearer acceptability scale was tested to investigate subjective preference of current and prototype coveralls. As subjects, 10 auto mechanics were participated. Order of testing was randomized. ANOBA and LSD were used for statistical analysis. As a results, prototype coverall was significantly different from current coverall at all test movements. Also, prototype coverall was significantly different from current coverall at 13 scales among 23 subjective scales. The results identified that prototype coverall design improved auto mechanic's body movement and subjective acceptability.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.309-315
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• 2015

This paper presents a lower-limb exoskeleton testbed and its control method. An exoskeleton is a wearable robotic system that can enhance wearer's muscle power or assist human's movements. Among a variety of its applications, especially for military purpose, a wearable robot can be very useful for carrying heavy loads during locomotion by augmenting soldiers' mobility and endurance. The locomotion test on a treadmill was performed up to maximum 4km/h walking speed wearing the lower-limb exoskeleton testbed with a 45kg backpack load.