# Children's Functional Clothing: Design Challenges and Opportunities
## 5 Analysis of Functional Children's Clothing Brands  
Despite extensive research in the field of functional textiles and efforts to mitigate the environmental footprint of this industry, the practical application of these findings in the realm of children's clothing appears to be at an early stage. In this regard, qualitative research was conducted on children's clothing brands that emphasise the functionality of their products (Table 2). \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt} p{113.8 pt}} \hline \hline
**Brands** & **Target** & **Functionalities** & **Textile Materials** & **Technologies** \\ \hline SilverGuard & & & & & Self-sanitising IONIC+ \\ [[https://www.silverguard.co.uk/](https://www.silverguard.co.uk/)]([https://www.silverguard.co.uk/](https://www.silverguard.co.uk/)) & Underwear & Antimicrobial; anti-odour & Cotton, silver threads & (X-STATIC®) \\ \hline Fifty & & & & & \\ [[https://www.fifflybaby.com/](https://www.fifflybaby.com/)]([https://www.fifflybaby.com/](https://www.fifflybaby.com/)) & Underwear & Antimicrobial; anti-odour & Cotton & “Natural Technologies” \\ \hline Le Petit Chifon & & & & & \\ https://www. lepetitchifon.pt/ & Underwear & Adjustable clothes & Organic cotton & Patternmaking \\ \hline Frugi & Underwear & & & & \\ [[https://www.veloperfugi.com/](https://www.veloperfugi.com/)]([https://www.veloperfugi.com/](https://www.veloperfugi.com/)) & Underwear & & & & Water-repellent and Fluorocarbon free details; (harmful chemicals free) & \\ \hline Sustain by kat & & & \"Good for skin\"/promote wellbeing; (harmful chemicals free) & Organic fibres & Plant dyes with ayurvedic processes \\ \hline Bonsie & Underwear & & \"Promote easy skin-to-skin contact\"; hook \& loop & \\ [[https://www.bonsie.com/](https://www.bonsie.com/)]([https://www.bonsie.com/](https://www.bonsie.com/)) & Wear to surgeries and treatments & closure; (harmful chemicals free) & Diverse materials & Patternmaking \\ \hline Eczema Clothing & Underwear & Flat seams; latex free; no internal label; (harmful chemicals free) & Organic cotton, Tencel & Patternmaking \\ \hline Happy Skin & & & & & \\ [[https://www.happy-skin.com/](https://www.happy-skin.com/)]([https://www.happy-skin.com/](https://www.happy-skin.com/)) & Underwear & & & \\  & & & Lightweight; Hypoallergenic & & \\ \hline DreamSkin Health & & & & & \\ https://www. & Underwear & & & & Medical grade silk & DreamSkin® \\ dreamskinhealth.co.uk/ & Underwear & & & & \\ \hline Nununu & & & & & \\ [[https://www.nununu.com/](https://www.nununu.com/)]([https://www.nununu.com/](https://www.nununu.com/)) & & & & & \\ \hline \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 2: Analysis of products, functionalities, textile materials and technologies across functional children’s clothing brands. To understand the functionalities inherent in children's clothing products and the main technologies used in the market, four research indicators were developed for analysis on the brands' websites. All information about the brands was extracted from their online platforms. The four selected indicators are as follows:  
* Target: examined through product indications to determine the principal use of clothing. This assessment aims to determine whether the clothing is intended for internal or external use. This indicator is crucial for understanding whether the functionality is geared towards direct contact with the skin, protection against external elements or other specific uses. * Functionalities: observed by assessing the principal features emphasised by the brands. This assessment aims to determine whether to provide comfort and wellbeing or to promote interaction and cognitive development.