An innovative apparel design for enhancing health toward postoperative female breast cancer patients

Purpose This study aims to improve the physical and mental well-being of postoperative female breast cancer patients by developing an innovative apparel design that addresses the lack of adequate rehabilitation products and guidance after discharge from medical institutions. Design/methodology/approach The research integrates quality function deployment (QFD) and the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) to guide the design process. Patient needs were collected and prioritized through QFD, which transformed them into actionable design requirements. TRIZ was then applied to resolve contradictions among the requirements and generate innovative design solutions. Based on this process, a postoperative apparel design model and prototype-based validation scheme were proposed and validated through scenario simulation and fuzzy evaluation model. Findings The resulting apparel design effectively addresses both physical rehabilitation and psychological recovery needs of female breast cancer patients after surgery. It also facilitates a more supportive and communicative environment between patients and medical staff, contributing to overall well-being. Originality/value This study provides a novel methodological framework for apparel design in the healthcare context by combining QFD and TRIZ. It offers a user-centered, problem-solving approach that enhances patient care through functional and emotionally supportive design.