Ergonomics To Aid Of Fashion

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31598, 8 February 1968, Page 22

Ergonomics To Aid Of Fashion

(Special Crspdt. N.Z.P A.) LONDON, Feb. 7. Design techniques developed to keep astronauts comfortable in space suits have been applied to a collection of men’s wool clothing. The collection will be shown for the first time by the International Wool Secretariat on Saturday, to coincide with the opening of a French men’s wear fair. But the collection contains noth-

ing that looks like a space suit. What these down-to-earth garments have in common with the well-dressed astronaut is ergonomics “the scientific study of man at work.” Ergonomic techniques were evolved during the Second World War and have been used in the American and Russian space programmes. They have been applied to the design of furniture and cars, but not previously to civilian clothing. At the show, clothing designers and manufacturers from all over Europe will see

the result of “Project Adam's” an ergonomic clothing study commissioned by the international wool men’s wear office of the I.W.S. The 18-month programme has involved work by a physiologist, a psychologist, a clothing technician, and men’s wear stylists in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Models will show the “Project Adam” clothes, all but one of which are of pure new wool in tweeds, fancy worsted. and the new wool stretch jersey fabrics for men.

Mr I. Campbell, the director of the secretariat’s men’s wear office, says the ergonomic clothing designer tries to produce clothes which do not restrict the wearer's movements, are neither chilly in cold weather nor clammy in hot weather, keep their shape, and are water repellent and flame resistant Immediately after the Paris show the secretariat’s men’s wear specialists will start working with clothing manufacturers of several countries who want to make ergonomic men’s wear in woolmark clothes.