Abstract
The purpose of this study was to analyze and determine the relationship between physiological responses including blood flow rate and garment pressure, and the feeling of restrictive tightness associated with the wearing skinny pants as a popular clothing style. Evaluation was based on material type, posture and activity type, and body part location. Five female college students took part in this research. Five kinds of experimental clothes with waist measurements of 66cm were chosen. An analysis of the selected skinny pants demonstrated the degree of the whole looseness was higher in this order: clothing type A>B>D>C, and E with E being knitted cloth. Garment pressure was the highest in the front knee portions and was lowest in the outside thigh region. Garment pressure was highest in this sequence : clothing type C>=D>A>=B>E. In terms of posture and activity types, garment pressure was the highest when research participants were crouching, and was the lowest when standing. The blood flow rate was highest in this order: clothing type E>D>B>A>C. Type C skinny pants impeded blood flow and demonstrated the tightest and most restrictive relationship. Blood flow rate varied depending on the type of movement and was highest in this order: getting up, rowing, kicking, jumping and O-shaped leg posture. The results of subjective pressure evaluation demonstrated that pressure was highest in this order: E>=C>B>A>D. These results suggests the need to improve on the patterns and the material design in the area of the front knees. The degree of the looseness when wearing skinny pants did not always correspond to garment pressure or subjective sensation.