{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T07:00:02Z","timestamp":1776322802586,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":64,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,24]],"date-time":"2024-05-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1716508800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Operational Competitiveness Program and the National Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal (FCT)","award":["UID\/CTM\/00264\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["UID\/CTM\/00264\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Applied Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Functional textiles and clothing designed for children should provide a safe and supportive environment, encompassing comfort, safety, health, wellbeing, and cognitive development, as well as fostering interaction and exploration. This study explores the multifaceted nature of functional textiles and clothing for children. It emphasises the importance of comprehensive knowledge about the user and an interdisciplinary approach in the design process. The integration of expertise from diverse fields contributes to a holistic understanding of the challenges and opportunities inherent in creating clothing that satisfies aesthetic demands and promotes the wellbeing of children. Through a study of existing research in functional textiles and a market analysis of children\u2019s clothing, this research underscores the importance of practical application of studied materials and technologies in children\u2019s fashion, creating innovative and purposeful solutions. This collaborative effort involves working with multidisciplinary teams and applying designers\u2019 updated knowledge of functional materials throughout all stages of the design process. The study emphasises the designer\u2019s responsibility in articulating the essential knowledge needed to integrate functionality from the beginning of the design process, ensuring that practical considerations are integral to the core attributes of the clothing. The study also proposes a framework that represents the design process for functional children\u2019s clothing.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/app14114472","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,24]],"date-time":"2024-05-24T03:46:56Z","timestamp":1716522416000},"page":"4472","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Children\u2019s Functional Clothing: Design Challenges and Opportunities"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5082-3687","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Diana","family":"Santiago","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2380-5616","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Isabel","family":"Cabral","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5063-1124","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joana","family":"Cunha","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Textile Science and Technology (2C2T), Department of Textile Engineering, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimar\u00e3es, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,5,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"151","DOI":"10.1080\/17543266.2021.1898681","article-title":"Factors Influencing Consumer Choice: A Study of Apparel and Sustainable Cues from Canadian and Indian Consumers\u2019 Perspectives","volume":"14","author":"Rahman","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int. 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