The following study analyzed the patterns of coveralls worn by auto repair shop workers to create a marketable basic pattern and develop working clothes that improve fitness and ease of movement. Afterwards, fitting evaluations were conducted on five subjects to come up with solutions for developing working clothes that can increase labor efficiency.
After identifying the inconveniences and points of improvement for currently marketed work clothes through interview-based surveying of repair shop workers and analyzing the pattern and design of the coverall that currently hold the highest market share, basic pattern of a coverall for fitting evaluation was developed.
The fitting evaluation of coveralls available at market showed low evaluations on fitting around the hip, slacks and the arms. Additionally, excluding the neck area, areas of the back, arm pits, crotch, knees, shoulders and elbows showed the lowest evaluation in ease of movement.
Based on the fitting evaluation results of currently marketed coveralls, basic template was modified by creating creases around the shoulders and the waist in consideration of upper body movement, by inserting a gusset around the crotch, and by sewing darts around the elbows and knees. After the modified and supplemented experimental coverall I was produced and fitting tests were conducted, the evaluations have shown that fitting improvements could be seen partially in areas such as circumference and slacks length, but the design lacked improvements in reducing pressure to improve ease of movement around the back, crotch, knees, elbows and the waist.
By applying multi-directionally elastic fabric partially around the back, knees, shoulders and the hip of experimental coverall I, experimental coverall II was produced. After going through fitting tests, tightening phenomenon from complex factors that caused movement problems earlier were improved by using different materials around various parts.
Furthermore, based on the fitting evaluations of experimental coverall II, the pattern was modified around the knees, flank and the crotch, to produce experimental coverall III. After fitting evaluations for the final version were conducted, it was found that there were improvements in fitting and ease of movement in every category.
The research found that coveralls that require a wide range of movement and motion would need not only appropriate margin setting during pattern design and insertion of crease and slits around areas of articulated movement during fabric modification, but also the application of elastic fabrics in order to improve fitting and ease of movement.
As such, in order to improve fitting and ease of movement of auto repair shop coveralls that''s unimaterial without any elasticity, during pattern design, there is a need to develop coveralls that set a margin in needed areas and details such as creases and slits, all the while using elastic materials around the knees, elbows and the hip where there''s large articulated movement. Additionally, during fitting evaluation, there were differences in opinion between the subjects and the panel which further indicated the need to consider studies that incorporate subjective opinions of the wearer and not just limit the evaluations to being focused on the panel evaluations.