Inclusive Apparel Design for Baby Boomer Women

Apparel design solutions for an aging population with unique and changing needs are lacking in the retail industry. This especially applies to baby boomer women. As one of the largest segments of the U.S. population, they will increasingly seek both fashionable and functional apparel that addresses specific needs as they transition into the next stages of life. With changes in ability, attitudes and lifestyle, it is no wonder that their clothing needs are unique. The first objective of this study was to identify clothing preferences and perceived problems from the point of view of boomer women through their blogs, including women with a range of physical abilities. The second objective was to design and produce a mini-collection of prototype garments for this age cohort using an inclusive design framework. While existing research provided valuable information about aging consumer preferences, there is little research that takes it to the design stage to develop and analyze actual garment prototypes created specifically for boomer women with a range of needs. This step was essential to get closer to identifying viable options for this segment of the market.