Proposed Designs for Ironing Workers Uniform in Readymade Garments Factories in Light of Functional

Abstract

Ironing workers in garments factories exist in a workplace environment with some factors that reduce worker’s comfort while performing. These circumstances might affect in a way or another workers’ health and safety which eventually reflects on the quality and efficiency of production. The purpose of this study was to analyze the functional requirements of ironing workers uniform and propose five designs for the uniform and assess them in accordance with the nature of the performance and tasks for workers. The study followed the descriptive approach in describing the nature of the work environment in the ironing section and analyzing work tasks and clothing needs for the ironing workers. Survey data were collected from ironing workers in garment factories in Mecca region of Saudi Arabia and experts in the field of clothing and textiles. The findings of this study indicate that the sample of the workers revealed some of workers preferences toward workwear and experts agreed on the third proposed design of the uniform in terms of design and functional aspects which ranked first among the other proposed designs. The study presented a number of recommendations, including: conducting further studies to determine whether the clothing needs of ironing workers differ in areas different from the study, adopting the research methodology (DeJonge method) as a method for designing functional clothing and creating innovative solutions to the work uniforms problemsand Studying the aspects of external factors or stress that may affect workers while performing duties in the garment factories.