Total comfort in elderly women's clothing: an analysis of ergonomic, sensory, psychological, and thermophysiological aspects

Abstract

The growth of the elderly population has become a global phenomenon, requiring adaptations in the fashion industry to meet the specific needs of this group. With advancing age, significant bodily changes occur that affect physiological functioning and demand greater attention. In this context, it is essential to develop garments that prioritize ergonomic, sensory, psychological, and thermophysiological comfort, promoting well- being and functionality for consumers. This study adopts a bibliographic review methodology to contextualize the different types of comfort in clothing for older adults, followed by a qualitative description of comfort and a categorical analysis of visual content in brands aimed at this audience, in order to assess their adequacy in terms of comfort and well-being. The objective is to provide an understanding of total comfort for the elderly population, offering support for the development of more comfortable and functional fashion products. The study concludes that the market niche focused on clothing for older adults remains underexplored and does not adequately meet their needs, indicating a lack of suitable products that provide comfort and functionality for this age group.