DEVELOPMENT OF FUNCTIONAL CLOTHING FOR WORKERS IN FOOD SERVICE ENTERPRISES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS OF ANAMBRA STATE

The major purpose of this study was to develop functional clothing for workers in food service enterprises in tertiary institutions of Anambra State. Specifically, the study identified the necessary features included in the functional clothing: determined the essential body measurements for the construction of the functional clothing for the workers in food service enterprises in tertiary institutions and validated the comfort and suitability of the functional clothing developed for workers in food services enterprises in tertiary institutions of Anambra State. The area of the study was in tertiary institutions in Anambra state. Research and development design were used. The study are guided by three research questions and one hypothesis tested at 0.05 level of significance, questionnaire was used for data collection, which was used to develop functional clothing. Three experts from University of Nigeria Nsukka validated it. Questionnaire were administered to lecturers in tertiary institutions of Anambra State. All the copies were completed and retrieved. It was hundred percent returns. The study was in three phases. The target population for phase I and III were made of 36 lecturers while phase II were made of one hundred and forty (140) workers in food service enterprises. The sample size for phase I and III were six (6) lecturers while that of phase II were 30 workers in food service enterprises. A questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data were analyzed using mean and percentage for research questions, while ANOVA used to test hypothesis. According to the eleven (11) features were identified as necessary to be included; open front with buttons, big buttons, large armhole, large front hip pocket, large neckline, narrow breast pocket on the left, large sleeves, and length of coat should be loosely fitted, open slit at the back, coat with collar and cap to cover the hair. The body measurements ranged from 98.4cm for small sized workers to 114.0cm for large sized workers at the waist and 101.4cm for small sized workers to 121.4cm for the large sized workers at the bust respectively. Based on the measurements obtained, functional clothing of three categories (small, medium and large) were produced and were found to be comfortable and suitable to workers of tertiary institutions of Anambra State. Based on the findings: the following (3) recommendations were made (1) Features of functional clothing as identified in the study be considered while making functional clothing for workers in food service enterprises in tertiary institutions of Anambra State. (2) The use of functional clothing for workers in food service enterprises in tertiary institutions of Anambra state should be mandatory to ensure protection of their clothes from dirt, spills and puree e.t.c. (3) the blocks developed can be used for teaching pattern adoption to students. The research area for further studies includes replication of the study in all states of the federation.