A Sight Of No Vision

FROM NEED TO AESTHETIC and wear masks. People now have started selecting masks on basis of mutates in colour, prints, material, silhouette, surface embellishments, etc. Masks are also now available in categories of Designer masks, couple masks, bridal masks, kids’ masks, calligraphic masks, etc. Some of the trendy fashion masks are shown below.

Sooner this accessory will become chastely a fashion statement rather than a purpose of protection after this era of pandemic corona virus.

There are numerous ways through which these masks are creating a boom in the fashion world and helping them to become one of the category fashion accessories. APARNA SARDAR

INTERN AT TEXTILE VALUE CHAIN

Abstract Design just as any other language, has its own grammar and communication and clothes play a vital part in representing this. Unfortunately, it could be perceived only by people with vision ,though there are devices developed that aid mobility and communication to visually impaired people but there are only few of them that could help them in choosing and purchasing them.

APPAREL FOR DISABLED References: Recommendations of world health organization for the corona virus during COVID 19. VOGUE, Christian Allaire, May 14 2020 Loma Linda university, Health department. Article by Janelle Ringes, August 11 2020. https://www.google.com/

A Sight For No Vision The disable people need to be independent and self relied. project would help the visually impaired know about their clothing on their own and it. It would improve their association with art and design. It would give a different perspective of how a surface ornamentation or weaving technique is not only decorative, but can be used as a means of communication.

Due to limited availability of services and products available in this particular section , I feel the motivation behind this project. As per earlier studies done on visually impaired people’s choice of purchases it was found that the tactile feature on products add to appeal and act as the primary criteria for purchases. The sense of touch becomes more vision for the blind. Hence the design related information about their clothes can be given through Braille or embossed design as it would help them make their choices independently. Motifs and patterns are designed using embroidery and beads. [1] Introduction The number of social challenges blind people face daily limit the activities in which they can participate. Hence, New, effective methods of non-visual communication are needed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the modern world and as we know clothing is a very real form of communication. Unfortunately, this communication is only perceived by people with vision . In addition to the difficulty in navigating in unknown environments, blind people confront a number of social challenges everyday which limit the activities in which they can participate.

Areas of relevance include tasks performed in the workplace, in educational settings, in the pursuit of leisure activities, in daily living, and navigating indoor/outdoor spaces. New, effective methods of non-visual communication are needed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the modern world. Clothing is an intense and very real form of communication. But, it is almost exclusively perceived using vision, especially on the part of the observer. The reliance on vision then results in fashion being difficult to translate to someone who is not sighted. Visual disability does not remove the strongly felt need to project a positive, attractive image and to maintain a high standard. [2]The number of social challenges blind people face daily limit the activities in which they can participate. Hence, New, effective methods of non-visual communication are needed for individuals who are blind or visually impaired in the modern world and as we know clothing is a very real form of communication. Unfortunately, this communication is only perceived by people with vision .There is a strongly felt need to be independent and self- reliant within every individual, including people with disabilities. This project would help the visually impaired know about their clothing on their own and it would improve their association with art and design. It would give a different perspective of how a surface ornamentation or weaving technique is not only decorative, but can be used as a means of communicationThe disable people need to be independent and self relied. project would help the visually impaired know about their clothing on their own and it. would improve their association with art and design. It would give a different perspective of how a surface ornamentation or weaving technique is not only decorative, but can be used as a means of communication. [3] Objective • To understand the problems faced by the visually impaired in context to their clothing. • To know the information the visually impaired need about their clothes. • To study about the appropriate methods that could be used to providesubjective information related to clothes in a non-visual form. • To come up with a design solution that would make clothing more adaptable and informative for the visually impaired

Ultimately there is a desire to

“fit in” with the crowd, especially since devices such as white canes and guide dogs cause a person to stand out (often in an undesirable way).But one cannot see what others are wearing to know what it means to “fit in”.

Most of the visually impaired people would not want any articles of clothing that stand out from what others are wearing.

Rather than wanting clothing which somehow spoke to them differently, they want greater access to the current clothing. In the paper, Fashion for the Blind:

A Study of Perspectives the authors mentioned “poor blind girl” concept. This refers to the idea that there is no room for error when it comes to fashion when you are vision impaired because if you do make an error then you will be looked upon with pity. As some amount of familiarity is required to interpret the representations, congenitally blind people are not being currently considered as they do not possess any amount of visual memory. Due to the preferences and the inclination of women towards wearing clothing with textures and embroidery, the target user group would be women.[4] Limitations To understand the problems faced by the visually impaired in context to their clothing. To know the information the visually impaired need about their clothes. To study about the appropriate methods that could be used to provide subjective information related to clothes in a non-visual form. To come up with a design solution that would make clothing more adaptable and informative for the visually impaired. Significance of the research The disable people need to be independent and self relied. project would help the visually impaired know about their clothing on their own and it. It would improve their association with art and design. It would give a different perspective of how a surface ornamentation or weaving technique is not only decorative, but can be used as a means of communication Review of Literature The definition of vision impairment by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says a visually impaired person’s eyesight cannot be corrected to a “normal level”. It may be said that visual impairment is the functional limitation of the eye or eyes or the vision system. [5]

Globally, at least 2.2 billion people have a vision impairment or blindness, of whom at least 1 billion have a vision impairment that could have been prevented or has yet to be addressed.

APPAREL FOR DISABLED This 1 billion people includes those with moderate or severe distance vision impairment or blindness due to unaddressed refractive error, as well as near vision impairment caused by unaddressed presbyopia.

Globally, the leading causes of vision impairment are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts.The majority of people with vision impairment are over the age of 50 years.[6] Problems faced by visually impared people while purchasing clothes In a research paper named “Clothing purchases among visually impaired adolescents” the authors say Clothing selection is all the more difficult if the consumer is visually impaired. Identification of garments in terms of 1.Front/back and right/wrong side of the garment 2.Colour and Pattern selection 1. Upper and lower garment 2. Folding and arranging clothes These problems can be solved by designing suitable clothing for the disability as well as enhance their personality by improving their confidence with respect to clothing.[7] Methods followed by the visually impaired to identify their clothes This take help from family members, using plastic Braille labels or different types of stitching pattern tags on the clothes. The National Federation of the Blind Explains the way in which blind people identify their clothes Fig : Braillie cloth identifier Source:https://visionaware.org/everyday-living/essential-skills/personal-self- care/organizing-and-la

beling-clothing/1235/ Braille Clothing Identifiers: Durable and washable white plastic tags with braille. They can be sewn or pinned on to the garment. Each label contains just 2-3 braille letters [8] Consideration to be taken during cloth purchasing

Though there are numerous devices available to help visually impaired people in daily lives. Example Braille tags with codes have been developed using smart phones have also been developed which can give the objective information ( price, wash care , size ) for the visually impaired consumers. which can give the objective information ( price, wash care , size ) for the visually impaired consumers. Hence there is a need of a system to match clothes with multiple colours and complex patterns to assist visually impaired and blind people by distinguishing both pattern and colour information In the paper, Fashion for the Blind: A Study of Perspectives the authors discuss on the role of colour and patterns in clothing choices. ” It was explained that colours were given certain associations by sighted parents or friends (such as pink for girls or red for fire) and this carried over into what colours the person would like to wear In a paper on Making Fashion Accessible for People with Vision Impairments, the authors discovered two distinct clothing related information needs: objective (e.g., colour and washing instructions) and subjective (e.g., whether a garment is appropriate for an occasion).[ 9]

Methodology

1. Researching on data related to vision impairment and studying on the various specialized products that give solutiom for the visually impaired daily life problems for reading and writing. Braille is a tactile writing system used by the blind and the visually impaired. It is traditionally written with embossed paper . The basis of the Braille system is known as the Braille cell. The cell is comprised of six dots numbered in a specific order. Each dot or combination of dots represents a letter of the alphabet and there are 63 different cells not counting the space .Reading and typing is becoming more and more simpler for the visually impaired because of the technology [10]

Apart from braillie tactile textures are also used in Special Multisensory toys and games. Tactile Art and Photography. Story books with Tactile graphics. • Improved web accessibility[11] Fig: Rubik cube designed for blind people

Fig : Visually impaired person showing the shirt with embroidered Braille Source:http://www.ryersonfashion. ca/designsenior- project/alexa-jov anovic

Small beads were added to the exterior of clothing to form phrases in Braille that communicate clothing characteristics to blind individuals, such as a garment’s colour, size and care content. This application of beading enhances the fashionable aspect of the garment for sighted individuals, while increasing its function beyond aesthetic value for blind individuals. [12] Analysis

1. Touch is a very strong sense for the Visually impaired.It is important to design for them keeping this “ability” as the core. 2. Subjective information needs like pattern or designht should be addressed. 3. Connecting the visually impared to their clothes through design 4. Embossed design with some textual clues would help the visually impaired to make their own choices.[13] Design Process According to the principles and guidelines of good tactile design 1. Unnecessary details need to be reduced and perspective view of the object should be avoided.

2. Distinctive details of the object must be retained and clues related to the object must not be lost in translation.

5.1 Different techniques to create tactile texture

1. Embroidery 2.Fabric Manipulation 3.Heat setting

4.3D - printing 5.Woven textures

Fig : Embroidery french knot Fig: Fabric Manupulation - Yo yo Patchwork Since they can relate red colour with fire but since they cannot feel the colour ,they need to feel the motif. Fig. A T-shirt braille letters used which says fire

Identifying sizes Lather punching can be done to emboss the braille letters Description : A concept that will help the visually impaired to identify the right size for their shoes without anyone’s assistance. Scope and Conclusion As it is understood visually impaired people need both subjective and objec•tive information related to their clothing,hence informa•tion in a form which it is understandable by them such as braille or tactile graphics, would make them more independent during their clothing selection and identification. This project has been initiated taking all the visually impaired into consideration except the congenitally Blind. a great scope for further research in terms of the plethora of problems that can be looked at apart the design related information needs. This would eventually let the visually impaired individuals to be independ

ent in this context.

References Story, MF (2001). Principles of universal design. In W. F. E. Preiser & E. Ostroff (Eds.), Universal design handbook (pp. 10.3-10.19). New York: McGraw-Hill Selecting and purchasing clothing: The experience of visually impaired people in Hong Kong. Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, 94, 34-42, Kaufman, A (2000). Clothing-selection habits of teenage girls who are sighted and blind. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 94, 527-532 Chang, H. J. J., Hodges, N., & Yurchisin, J. (2014). Consumers with disabilities: