A Study of Simplicity Apparel Using Magnet as the Closure for the Elderly in Vietnam

According to the General Statistics Office and UNFPA (2021), Vietnam is one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world. One of the challenges older people might face while completing daily tasks is getting dressed and undressed with buttons, which is also a common reason older adults lose their independence. Therefore, this study aims to simplify the shirt for the elderly by applying magnets to the closure. This shirt improvement is not a new solution in the world, but in Vietnam, elderly apparel has not received much attention, and there is no research to make it easier to dress and more comfortable. The study began with a preliminary market survey of local apparel. The prototype of different shirts was produced to demonstrate magnetic shirts’ time and function efficiency and compare them with familiar buttons. Fitting tests on the elderly were performed, and the results showed that taking on and off a shirt with a magnetic button is more than two times faster than with a regular button. The shirts are comfortable and easy to move. The Dynamometer test results showed that shirts using magnet button material have good adhesion on the closure, equivalent to or better than the Vietnamese metal snap buttons. The difference in traction force also depends on the size of the magnet buttons. The wearers respond well to this new closure and are willing to buy the product if offered and sold in the market. However, further research should be done to study the magnet treatment on apparel, and a proper test should be made if the magnetic clothing will be mass-produced.