Hiroko Takabu

Analysis of Three-Dimensional Torso Shape and Bodice Pattern of Elderly Japanese Women

The population of individuals over 65 years old is growing rapidly. To provide well-fitting clothes for this population, it is important to clarify the difference in body shape between elderly and young women, and the quantitative relationships between flat patterns and body shapes. In this study, our aim was to clarify the factors that explain the diversity among young and elderly Japanese women’s body shapes. The subjects were 107 elderly and 230 young healthy Japanese women. Six VIVID 910 non-contact 3D digitizers were used to measure their torsos. In each subject, from the 3-dimensional torso surface, two-dimensional diagrams of the body surface were made using the 3D CAD software and would be the basic pattern for making clothes for that subject. To enable statistical analysis, the 3D data of each individual were transformed to a homologous model and analyzed. The average shapes of the two age groups were calculated and an age difference was observed. Upon principal component analysis of the homologous models, nine factors were extracted. Most of these factors could be effective input variables for pattern making in addition to ordinary size variables. The shapes of the body surfaces were observed in association with the principal component scores of the models.