Helena Maria De Klerk

The early‐adolescent female clothing consumer

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the early‐adolescent female consumers expectations and evaluation, as well as satisfaction relating to the fit, as a dimension of the quality of her clothes.Design/methodology/approach – A quantitative research style was followed and a structured questionnaire was used as data‐collecting method. A total of 120 13‐year‐old young female consumers, also known as the early‐adolescent female, participated in the study.Findings – The results suggest that the early‐adolescent female consumer is not only concerned about the functional aspects of the fit of her clothes, but also about the emotional effect. Results further suggest that this consumer group probably does not have the expertise, knowledge and cognitive skills that can enable them, during the evaluation phase of the decision‐making process, to realistically evaluate this very important dimension of the quality of clothes, with the main purpose of giving functional comfort and emotional pl...

The physically disabled woman's experience of self.

Purpose: With the Symbolic Interactionism as background it can be argued that physical disabilities and problems with personal appearance may have a negative influence on the physically disabled womans social-psychological well-being. Method: In order to explore the physically disabled womans experience of Self, two unstructured interviews were conducted with 40 randomly selected disabled women between the ages of 21 years and 60 years. Results: It was clear that others in general play an important role in the physically disabled womans experience of Self. She not only compares herself with others in general, but also desires feedback from them. She accepts her disability but feels that her physical disability results in other people making negative inferences about her. Conclusion: This has a negative influence on her Public Self, including her presentation of herself to others and their perceptions of her as a person, as well as her experience of the total Self.

Identification of a unique African female body shape

The use of body scanning technology in sizing and fit research in developing countries is in many cases not practical considering its cost and technologies involved. The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the distinctive body shapes of Kenyan women without the use of body scanners. The units of analysis were urban women between the ages of 25 and 55 from Kenya. Due to a lack of a body scanner, traditional anthropometrical techniques for obtaining body dimensions and digital photography were used as an alternative method. A trained panel and the IGRAFX Designer 5 software were used for the visual analysis of the photos. The rectangular body shape was the most distinct body shape emerging from both the dimensions and evaluations of the photographs, with the triangle body shape as the second most distinct shape, but there are distinct differences between the Kenyan and American rectangular body shapes.

Strategies men use to cope with stress caused by severe obesity : a qualitative study

Abstract This qualitative study sought to explore and describe the coping strategies obese men use, as well as the lived experience of being obese. A phenomenological approach, symbolic interactionism and life course perspectives were used as theoretical points of departure. Experiences of being obese were described through three individual, in-depth, unstructured interviews. Emotion-focused coping strategies like blaming, denial and reappraisal, as well as avoidance were used while problem-focused coping strategies consisted of physical activity, weight loss diets and wearing appropriate clothes. Cognitive appraisals gave rise to certain emotions and feelings that their self and well-being were at risk and need to be dealt with. Along the life course they developed a specific coping trajectory. Identification of coping strategies and better awareness of the lived experience of obese men may enhance the knowledge of professionals, family members as well as parents who need to support them. It also provided tools to help vulnerable obese people deal with the consequences of stigma associated with it.

Use of 3D Scanning Technologies to Extract Body Measurements for Customised Size Charts for Predominant African and Caucasian Body Shapes in South Africa

The South African sizing system was adapted from an out-dated British sizing system. This contributes to the fit problems currently experienced by female apparel consumers in South Africa. To improve ready-to-wear apparel fit, body measurements and body shapes prevalent within a target population need to be identified and subsequently form a basis for a sizing system. The South African apparel industry bases apparel design and manufacturing on standard figures yet research shows that female consumer populations consist of women of different body shapes and body proportions. Diverse ethnic groups within populations further aggravate the variations. Differently shaped consumers experience different fit problems from standard apparel and size charts and therefore require differently shaped apparel. In an attempt to address ready-to-wear apparel fit problems among the ethnically diverse South African female population, this paper sought to compile customised size charts of body shape classes predominant among African and Caucasian women. This paper utilised scan data of 233 African (n1 = 109) and Caucasian (n 2 = 125) women aged 18-25 years that were selected using the purposive and snow-balling techniques. Body shape descriptors from literature guided body shape classification formulae that were computed from circumferential drop values of the samples and mean ± standard deviation. These were used to classify participants’ bodies into different body shape categories. A print-out of virtual body images showing participants’ front and side view images were subjected to visual analysis by a panel of experts to confirm body shapes assigned from measurements. The body shape defining parameters adopted in this study were. triangle: Mean to Maximum (in cm) i.e. 12.6 ≤ hip – bust ≤ 29.8, hourglass: Mean ≤ bust – waist ≤ Maximum i.e. 18 ≤ bust – waist ≤ 26.6 and rectangle: Mean (18 cm) – 3 x SD (12.3 cm) < bust – waist < mean i.e. 5.6 < bust – waist < 18. Findings show that there were 64 African triangle, 42 Caucasian triangle, 30 African hourglass, 51 Caucasian hourglass, 14 African rectangle and 32 Caucasian rectangle. The significant differences between the Caucasian hourglass figure assumed to be similar to the Western hourglass used as a standard figure by ready-to-wear apparel manufacturing, confirmed need for customised size charts for the predominant body shapes among South African women. This paper resulted in the computation of customised size charts for the different predominant African and Caucasian body shapes. While there are a number of Western studies that classify body shape using drop values, there has not been such study in South Africa.