/’Lāvaṇya/
As saree-wearing women age, their gait adapts into a waddle, a sort of side-to-side shuffle which allow them to continue walking in their saree’s without bending their knees. This is a result of a high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases such as osteoarthritis. Their new formed gait, though it allows them to continue wearing their saree’s, is detrimental to their musculoskeletal health.
Through extensive user research and testing, Lavanya was created by re-designing the petticoat which is worn under a saree. The new petticoat has a hidden structured form which allows Indian women to walk normally in a saree without affecting their gait and without compromising the overall silhouette and traditional aesthetic of the saree.
The majority of saree wearers in India and the UK are over the age of 65. Sarees are a traditional garment worn by Indian women, whether they be working, at home or at a celebration. For younger women, the traditional garment is becoming more associated with occasion wear and so is worn infrequently.
When you walk in a saree, you traditionally adapt your gait and take on a ‘kick-walk’ action. This kicking motion allows the wearer to kick away the pleated fabric in front of their feet as they walk to avoid tripping and also create a graceful fluid movement with the fabric. The new gait is compared to normal gait in the below visual.
Research and workshops with users suggested that women were open to new solutions as long as the silhouette created by the saree was not compromised. As a result, after many prototypes and materials were tested, an internal structure was created that can be stitched or ironed in to an existing petticoat. This structure allows the fabric of the saree to naturally move with the wearer, pushing the pleats away from the wearer as they walk normally. Same silhouette, same image, no kick-walk required.
To test each prototype, all users were hooked up to electromyography (EMG) sensors to monitor their muscle movement as an indicator of their gait. This data allowed me to understand if the women were walking normally, kicking or waddling.
As a result of the new design, older Indian women are able to continue wearing their traditional attire without impacting their musculoskeletal health and young Indian women are able to wear their traditional attire with more confidence.
Walk with confidence, walk with grace, walk with Lavanya.