| Summary: | Anthropometry can be defined as the measuring of the human body. As part of an ancient
science, anthropometry has developed through the years to a highly specialised science that
is used with great success in amongst others, the clothing industry and in sport. In the
clothing industry, anthropometric methods are used to determine body measurements that
are being used in the designing of patterns, as well as in the construction of clothes. In
other words. clothing manufacturers use this information to ensure that their clothes will
better fit their target group. Because of the fact that anthropometry and body types vary
from person to person, and is being influenced by factors such as body development and
growth, ethnic differences, social class, etc., it is advised that clothing manufacturers do
research fur their target groups. The information that is gathered from the research, should
help clothing manufacturers to improve the suitability of their clothes for their target
group. Unfortunately, some manufacturers cannot afford such specialised research, and
therefore use copied or outdated size charts, that in return, lead to insufficient fit of their
clothes on their target groups. In South Africa, the size: charts that are being used for the
manufacturing of clothes, are outdated. Consumers also find that, not all the clothes that
are supposed to fit them, live up to their expectations. Another problem is that the South
African population comprises of four different main groups, namely: Blacks, Coloureds,
Indians and Whites, and that the available size: charts do not distinguish between these four
categories.
The goal of the THUSA BANA STUDY was to determine the problem of being
overweight and obese, as well as other factors that can be linked to the above-mentioned
components in school children, aged 10 to 15 in the North West Province. As the THUSA
BANA STUDY requires that anthropometric measurements should be obtained, it also
paves the way for some valuable .research with regard to size: charts for designing and
construction of clothes for amongst others, school children. A goal of this study was to
obtain specific body measurements of Indian boys between the ages of 10 to 14, as well as
of Indian girls between the ages of 10 to 14, and to then compile the obtained information
to the standard measurements that are used in the clothing industry. A well-balanced
sample taken at random, comprising gender (male and female), as well as ethnic groups,
(Black, White. Coloured, and Indian), was put together, including schools (primary and
secondary). and representing the five regions of the North West Province. Research was
done within school hours, and only after well-informed permission was granted. Well coached
fieldworkers prepared the children, took the respective measurements, and then
categorised measurements on the provided lists. The mathematical values were calculated
while analysing the describing statistics. The standard deviation and the variance among
the given groups where determined from the mathematical average values. The d-value and
p-value were also calculated to establish the statistical and practical significant differences
between the taken measurements of the Indian children to those used in the clothing
industry. The measurements of the Indian boys and of the Indian girls were analysed
independently. The measurements of the Indian boys and Indian girls were also compared
to each other. According to the results, all the measurements that were taken, vary from
those used by the clothing industry. It is thus interesting to know that this information can
be used to upgrade the size charts of Indian children between the ages of10 and 14. === Thesis (M. Consumer Science)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
|
|---|
