Key Dimensions of Women's Ready-to-Wear Apparel: Developing a Consumer Size-Labeling System

Abstract

Key dimensions were selected for women's ready-to-wear garments to generate an anthropometric sizelabeling system designating garment size with body measurements. Two different statistical analyses were used to select key dimensions: residual variance analysis and factor analysis. The results of the study show that (a) the key dimensions selected by both means of analysis are similar, (b) the key dimensions used in most mail-order catalogs are appropriate, and (c) in addition to the key dimensions currently in use, another key dimension representing length or height is needed. Bust circumference was selected as a key dimension for all upper body garments. Hip and waist circumferences were selected for all lower body garments. The key dimensions representing length or height were sleeve inseam length or sleeve outseam length for long-sleeve shirts, shoulder height or shoulder length for short-sleeve or sleeveless shirts, crotch height for calfor ankle-length pants, and waist height for skirts.

Variation in measurements across different brands of same style ladies' pants in Swaziland

“…There is an urgent need to alert consumers that the crotch length affects the waistband measurements as pants that have a longer crotch tend to have a smaller waistband closer to the natural waistline of an individual. This can assist consumers in understanding fit issues in order to formulate consumer-friendly ways of selecting garments for acceptable fit (Chun-Yoon and Jasper 1996). Figure types affect the sizing measurements used in the manufacture of apparel.…”

“…Zwane consumers prefer the most informative size description system that indicates body measurements. In a separate study, Chun-Yoon and Jasper (1996) used key dimensions, the hip and waist circumferences and crotch height for women's garments in order to develop a size-labelling system that designates garment size with body measurements. They found that these key dimensions were appropriate but another key dimension representing length or height was needed for more accuracy.…”

<title>3D measurement of the human body for apparel mass customization</title>

“…Process the data using fitting techniques, such as B-spline curves, to smooth and connect points of a crosssection at one landmark or a space curve between two landmarks. 3 . Compute the measurements such as circumference, distance, angle, etc.…”

Anthropometric methods for the successful design of military clothing and equipment

“…In the period 1970-2010, statistical methods, such as principal component and factor analysis, correlation, multiple regression and discriminate analysis, were applied to large sets of data (Chun-Yoon and Jasper, 1996;Green, 1981;Hsu, 2009;Jung et al , 2010;Laing et al , 1999;Robinette, 1986;Salusso-Deonier, 1985). The general approach can be summarised as selecting the body site or segment of interest (e.g.…”