Physically challenged persons and selection of textile fabric: A case study of Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

Clothing  which  is  one  of  the  basic  needs  of  human  being,  plays  a  significant  role  in  an  individual’s  life  at  all  stages. Physically  challenged  persons,however,  are  confronted  with  the  choice  of  certain  fabrics  for  clothing  due  to  their disabilities. Evidence shows that two out of ten persons living in Ghana have problems with the right choice of textiles fabric  for  use  as  garment.  The  type  of  attire  or article  to  which  the  people  would  like  to  use  the  fabric  or  cloth  for remains unknown. This lack of data has been making it impossible for fashion designers and artisans to produce ready-to-use  articles  and  attires  for  the  physically  challenged  persons.  This  study  aims  at  assessing  physically  challenged persons and selection of textiles fabric for use considering the mobility gadget and its related comfortability among the physically  challenged  people  in  the  Sekondi  Takoradi–Metropolis.  The  research  design used  was  descriptive  and observation  survey. An  orderly  sampling  strategy  was  applied  to  select  300  respondents,  comprising  physically challenged  cloth  merchant,  fashion  designers  and  the  public. Data  for  the  study  was  obtained  using  structured questionnaires,  interview  and  observation.  The  results  of  the  study  revealed  that  majority  of  the  people  in  the  formal sector like using the fabric for social function than any others. The findings indicated that two-thirds of the respondents who, to some extent, consider the durability of the textile’s fabric in connection to the mobility gadget used but due to the low income earning it offset them to consider the price to durability. There was also a healthy relationship between patterns selection of textile fabric for garment and convenience of the mobility gadget. These findings provide a holistic understanding  of  the  challenges  physically  challenged  persons  faced  in  the choice  of  fabrics  for  use  considering  the mobility gadget and its related comfortability. The study  recommends that people should have positive mind towards the  physically  challenged  and  those  with  knowledge  of  fabric  properties  should  assist  them  in  the  selection  of  good fabric to enhance their conditions

.Keywords: Physically  challenged  persons,  choice  of  textiles  fabric,  garment,  Sekondi-Takoradi  metropolis,  western region, Ghana