Page 62 - Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design

Developing apparel sizing system 4

using anthropometric data: Body
size and shape analysis, key

dimensions, and data
segmentation

Norsaadah Zakaria a,b , Wan Syazehan Ruznan c
a
Centre of Clothing Technology and Fashion, IBE, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah
b
Alam, Malaysia, Malaysian Textile Manufacturing Association (MTMA) and Malaysian
c
Textile and Apparel Centre (MATAC), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Textile and Clothing
Technology Department, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Shah Alam, Malaysia

4.1 Introduction: The body sizing system

Anthropometric data are obtained from a comprehensive anthropometric survey to
understand the body shapes and sizes of certain population. When the body shapes
and sizes are analyzed and understood, then the development of the right size clothing
for good fitting garments can be achieved. It becomes especially significant when
there is a need for mass-produced garments. These types of garments are mainly
known as ready-to-wear where the sizes are set for certain body shapes and sizes.
The body sizing system is the method or system used to create a set of clothing for a
variety of people in the target market (Xia and Istook, 2017). The most common sizing
system in the apparel industry today uses a base size designed for a fit model and
graded set of proportionally similar sizes derived from this base size. According to
Xu et al. (2002) a size designation is “a set of garment sizes in a sizing system designed
to reflect the body sizes of most individuals in a population” (Xu et al., 2002). On the
other hand, RTW is the clothing that is manufactured in standard measurements and in
size sets. It is designed to be purchased in an appropriate size and worn without further
alterations. A sizing system can be as simple as “one size fits all” or S, M, L, or XL or
as complex as a system that provides a custom-fitted garment for each individual.
However, it has been noted that it is critical for any designer and manufacturer to pro-
vide clothing that fits all population (Goldsberry et al., 1996).
The purpose of a sizing system for apparel should be to make clothing available in a
range of sizes that fit as many people as possible (McCulloch et al., 1998; LaBat,
1987). Standard sizing system should be able to help the apparel firms in categorizing
garments of different sizes in a way that customers will recognize it (Hrzenjak et al.,
2013). It also helps customers in identifying the garments that will provide them with a

Anthropometry, Apparel Sizing and Design. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102604-5.00004-4
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