New technologies for customizing products for people with special necessities: project FASHION-ABLE

[EN] Mass-customization of wearable products are offered as a higher added value to the broad public and have to compete with ready-to-wear offer. However, people with specific requirements are not covered by the current mass-customised products. This is the case of the elderly, disabled, diabetic and obese population groups when wearing textiles, clothing, footwear and textile-based orthotic goods. Further, at present, available knowledge and flexibility of production equipment and machinery of small and medium-sized enterprises operating in these traditional industries (even those that already offer made-to-measure products to the mass public) is unable to respond to the individual needs among such heterogeneous groups. The FASHION-ABLE project has solved this problem with a comprehensive set of solutions.This work was supported by the European Commission [project number FP7.FoF.NMP.2011-4 Project 284 871] under FASHION-ABLE project (http://www.fashionable-project.eu/) Area: 'High tech solutions in production [...] for [...] healthy consumer goods'.Durá-Gil, JV.; Ballester Fernández, A.; Cavallaro, M.; Chiodi, A.; Ballarino, A.; Brondi, C.; Von Arnim, V.... (2016). New technologies for customizing products for people with special necessities: project FASHION-ABLE. International Journal of Computer Integrated Manufacturing. 30(7):724-737. https://doi.org/10.1080/0951192X.2016.1145803S72473730

Craft-based design for innovation: Potential in novelty, quality and sustainability through hands-on interaction

The industrial revolution created a rise in mass manufacture, increasing consumption to current unsustainable levels and marking a decline in hands-on craft practice. In contemporary practice, designers frequently employ digital ways of working and, whilst this may create opportunities and efficiencies, it can limit the working of materials by hand. In contrast, hands-on craft processes can develop in-depth knowledge and understanding to help solve complex and novel design problems. With increasing use of digital design methods, it is timely to reflect on the role and value of hands-on craft practices. The study explores the use of craft-based approaches to support design practice in relation to novelty and quality and considers its future potential to contribute to design for sustainability. A design project that integrated hand weaving with sandal design was undertaken and qualitative data collected. This was analyzed through data reduction, coding, clustering and display and is presented as a case study. The findings indicate that a craft-based approach can contribute to a heightened control of materials, construction and awareness of wider design issues such as the development process, production methods and environmental impact. Difficulties were identified in inefficient use of time and a knowledge/skills gap between specialist design and craft disciplines

"My Heels Are Better Than Yours"

The role that technology plays in our lives is rapidly growing. We are becoming increasingly dependent on and less willing to separate ourselves from our devices. The rise of wearable technology has been fueled by technology’s tendency to get faster and smaller. In the fashion industry, luxury brands have focused on exclusivity that includes bespoke fashion, high levels of craftsmanship, and high-quality materials. However, a subtle shift is starting as luxury brands look to technology, and wearable technology in particular, as a means of providing exclusive, customized products. The high-heeled shoe is an important part of the luxury shoe market, but high heels can cause discomfort and more serious health problems for the wearer. This research project explores the possibility of a wearable-based web data visualization application that offers an approach for female to wear comfortable high-heeled footwear, while it also provides possibility of customized services for luxury brand fashion footwear