A Study on Application of Enclothed Cognition in Apparel Design

Abstract

This study is designed to investigate the application of enclothed cognition in apparel design based on the study that extended from clothing psychology. Using the potential of the systematic influence that clothes have on wearers’ psychological process, the purpose is to seek the relationship between clothing, psychology, and cognitive and behavioral response. The study explores the current influence and interpretation of clothing on psychology, and by taking the perspective of enclothed cognition to make further relevant acknowledged and developmental research. In addition, with the goal of implementing affecting factors for apparel design, and to refer to product design concept. This study verifies not just the visual impacts that clothing bring to the wearers, but also the spiritual satisfaction. Then, by the process of re-designing the clothing, this study attempts to arouse the public awareness and reinterpret the meaning for apparel design in a social and cultural aspect. The study integrates the literatures reviews on the application for clothing psychology, cultural product design model and emotional design for developing the research framework. Through case study of two apparel brands, the study analyses and explores the use of their current designing process in a literary framework. This study is attempted to provide a farsighted thinking method for the apparel design industry. The contribution of this study lies in: (1) Expanding the multi-directional plasticity development of apparel design and psychology at the academic and practical levels. (2) Through the research and exploration of this study, constructing the framework for apparel design that go beyond the function and usability benefit and also bring emotional benefit for the product as a reference in relevant creative fields.