Redesigning kaba (blouse) as functional apparel suitable for lactating mothers
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Date
2021-07-05
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Abstract
Kaba is fashion apparel that has come to stay among Ghanaian women since time
immemorial. The apparel was and is worn to accentuate female modesty, chastity and
elegance. Kaba is one of the important apparels seen to form an integral part in the
wardrobe of the lactating mother. This is partly because of the cover cloth which forms
part of the local ensemble usually used to carry the baby at the back of the mother.
Despite its use among the women folks in the country and by breastfeeding mothers, it
is poised with a lot of challenges. The openings usually positioned at the back of the
blouse are meant to aid easy on and off doffing. When these openings are undone, they
expose other parts of the mother‟s body such as shoulders, tummy and chest. These
cause a lot of discomfort and embarrassment to the mother when breastfeeding
especially in public places. This study therefore, seeks to redesign kaba as functional
apparel suitable for lactating mothers. To achieve this, the following objectives were
set, thus to identify kaba (blouse) and its related problems to lactating mothers, to
redesign and construct a suitable kaba (blouse) apparel for lactating mothers and to
evaluate the efficacy of the redesigned kaba (blouse) for lactating mothers. The scope
of the study covered selected hospitals in some municipalities in the Ashanti region of
Ghana due to proximity. The study adopted the qualitative research design and
employed the descriptive and experimental research to assess the functional suitability
of the redesigned apparel to breastfeeding. From the data gathered, breastfeeding
mothers faced the problem of uncomfortability breastfeeding in the kaba apparel
primarily because the zippers provided at the back of the kaba was only functional for
easy on and off donning but not a functionality for breastfeeding. In order to solve these
and still maintain the fitting shape of the apparel, darts were manipulated during the
construction process of the kaba (blouse) and fasteners inserted as closures to the
openings created. The apparels were given to selected breastfeeding mothers to use to
ascertain its effectiveness in breastfeeding. Experiments conducted with the reviewed
kaba affirmed the apparels suitability, comfortability and acceptability for
breastfeeding. It is therefore recommended that, the researcher in collaboration with the
health centres should make efforts to educate new mothers on the need to acquire
functional apparels suitable for the purpose of breastfeeding and that inferences drawn
from the designs be replicated on other traditional garment to promote the local
garment industry
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Integrated Rural Art and Industry in the Faculty of Art College of Art and Built Environment, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Philosophy
Keywords
Redesigning kaba, apparel suitable, lactating mothers