TECHNICAL TEXTILES SPORTS MATERIALS FOR THE BABY BOOMER ACTIVE WEAR MARKET HELPS EDUCATE FUTURE DESIGNERS

摘要

The technical textiles industry in both the US and the EU has seen steady growth in the last decade. The sports performance active wear market has grown comparatively by incorporating these textiles into sports and active wear garments made innovative by the use of material integration with functional design for apparel. The use of specific textiles for an active garment is ideally based upon user needs and how that garment can aid both performance and quality of life. In depth research into the needs of the baby boomer "actively aging" generation can inform and teach design students how to better understand both the needs of this large demographic and the application of technical textiles in the design of active wear garments.