Pedagogy and Professional Development

“There’s Nothing Wrong With My Size”: Examining Students’ Attitudes Towards Self-Measurement and Body Self-Image in Apparel Design Courses

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Abstract

Many introductory apparel design courses require students to self-measure to understand pattern adjustment and fit needs. The fashion industry has an excessive promotion of thin ideals, leading to body dissatisfaction (Vartanian and Dey, 2013). In contrast, self sewing  can create positive feelings towards clothing due to improved fit and quality (Martindale, 2018). This exploratory qualitative study examined students' attitudes toward the use of self-measurement and body types and their experience with inclusivity in an introductory apparel design course. Overall, four main themes were identified: Positivity on Self Measurement, Self-Sewing Encouraging Confidence, Increasing Body Diversity in Apparel Coursework, & Utilizing Inclusive Design in Intro Coursework. Students had positive feelings towards self measurement and sewing for oneself. Participants noticed inclusivity in course materials and felt it helped them develop skills they will use in their future careers. 

Keywords: self-sewing, self measurement, body image, pedagogy, size inclusivity, inclusive design

How to Cite:

Miller, M. L. & McBee-Black, K., (2022) ““There’s Nothing Wrong With My Size”: Examining Students’ Attitudes Towards Self-Measurement and Body Self-Image in Apparel Design Courses”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15828