We Are Textiles and Apparel

President\u27s Addres

Physical Activity Environments in Rural Communities: Exploring the Relationship between Community Perceptions and the Environment

Purpose: To assess the physical activity environment, community perceptions of the physical activity environment, and the relationship between these variables in rural and/or underserved communities with high obesity prevalence.Methods: The Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) was used to assess the programs and policies (PPA), town-wide amenities (TWA), and street segments (SSA) of the physical activity environment and the Rural Active Living Perceived Environmental Support Scale (RALPESS) was used to assess community perception of the physical activity environment within eleven rural and/or underserved communities. Each section of the RALA and RALPESS are further broken down into additional subsections in order to assess specific aspects of the physical activity environment. Due to different absolute scores possible in each subsection, relative scores were calculated to allow for comparison between subsections. Data was analyzed with STATA and presented as mean ± standard deviation. Pairwise correlations were used to assess the relationship between the physical activity environment (RALA) and community perception of the physical activity environment (RALPESS). Statistical significance was set at p \u3c 0.05.Results: Eleven communities completed the RALA and 170 individuals completed the RALPESS. The RALA score was 53.4 ± 9.28%. The TWA scored 58.4 ± 16.0%, parks and playgrounds (78.2 ± 22.0%) scored highest and trails (35 ± 39.7 %) scored lowest (n=11). The PPA score was 43.82 ± 17.97 %, school policies (63.6 ± 32.3 %) scored highest and town policies (17.3 ± 30.7 %) scored lowest (n=11). The SSA score was 69.1 ± 17.5%, (lack of) barriers (90.0 ± 21.6%) scored highest and safety features (27.6 ± 18.0 %) scored lowest (n=10). The RALPESS score was 50.2 ± 13.8%. Schools (71.0 ± 24.6%) scored highest and churches (32.6 ± 20.7 %) scored lowest (n=11). No significant relationship was found between the total score on the RALA and RALPESS (r=0.48, p=0.16).Conclusion: There is not a relationship between perception of the PA environment and the PA environment in rural and/or underserved communities. The quality of amenities may be a main contributor to the lack of relationship as resources in poor quality may influence the way individuals perceive these PA resources. Lack of relationship may also be due to the possible inability of the assessment tools to capture PA support within extremely rural areas. The present study highlighted that schools are a key hub for physical activity efforts within rural and/or underserved communities. Implementation of programs in schools and bringing awareness to these programs may improve the perceptions and physical activity environments in rural communities and promote more physical activity

Ellis Raincoat

Designed for spring, Rainflower draws inspiration from the styles of ancient China: loose fits, layering, and pleats, with decorative as well as functional ties, reminiscent of the past. The collection was designed with the intention of layering as a key component, so pieces could be added or removed for versatility as the weather changes. In creating the collection, a theme of nostalgia and never growing up was a key influence, with a storybook aesthetic being the style

Converging and Diverging Scholarly Paths: Success through Collaboration

Over 30 years of working together our scholarly paths have converged and diverged. From early projects with a focus on industry partnerships, through sizing and fit research supported by an NSF grant, and the development of the Wearable Product Design Center; we continue to explore opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, industry, and graduate students. Our divergent scholarly paths strengthen our work together. Missy’s focus is on creative design and design scholarship and Karen’s interest is designing products for health and well-being

Understanding the Apparel Use, Needs, and Preferences of Breastfeeding Mothers

With the support of the US government and the Surgeon General, the percentage of mothers who choose to breastfeed is on the rise (CDC, 2012). An increase in breastfeeding mothers will result in increased use of breastfeeding products and apparel

Minnesota Sewn Product Manufacturers: Opportunities and Challenges

This research explored domestic sewn product manufacturing in Minnesota. There is growing interest in products made domestically to benefit from the opportunities to produce locally. Fourteen companies from across the state were interviewed about their experience with domestic manufacturing. A content analysis was conducted. Looking at motivations, the themes of personal values and economics developed; the local economy, control, and uniqueness arose as opportunities; and challenges included manufacturing resources and costs. These Minnesota manufacturers are driven to balance the opportunities and challenges of domestic manufacturing in part due to their personal values. Sustainability was not identified as a concern or a motivating factor

Design Functions in Transformable Garments for Sustainability

The trends of fast fashion and overconsumption have brought negative influences on the environment, the economy, and society (Fletcher, 2008; Hawley, 2008; Hethorn & Ulasewicz, 2008). Consumers keep purchasing garments as their needs and wants change, and waste related to clothing and footwear consumption keeps increasing(Fletcher, 2008; The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2012). Among many ways to encourage sustainability, transformable garments (which add a transformation phase to the regular clothing lifecycle)are expected to encourage consumers to be naturally involved in sustainable practices (Dombek-Keith & Loker, 2011; Loker, 2008)

A Protocol for the Evaluation of Coverall Fit

Evaluating fit is an inexact science and can be very subjective based on the wearers’ or judges’ preference and perceptions (Yu, 2004). The use of expert judges is the most common method of evaluating fit (Yu, 2004; Watkins, 1995). This paper proposes a protocol to triangulate the assessment of expert judges in evaluating the fit of protective coveralls. Protection from the environment is the main function of protective coveralls The functionality and fit of current protective coveralls is generally poor, and researchers have shown that wearability and fit of coveralls affect compliance with established safety standards (Ashdown & Watkins, 1992; Huck, Maganga, & Kim, 1997)

Protective Coverall Design Development and Testing

The purpose of this study was to improve the design and function of a disposable, level-one protective coverall for a Fortune 500 company. This research used the design process in conjunction with product benchmarking, on-site observational studies, user feedback, 3D body scan technology, fit tests, and expert evaluation to develop a coverall that is superior to the company\u27s current offering