Sizing in clothing: developing effective sizing systems for ready-to-wear clothing

The basic concepts behind sizing systems currently used in the manufacture of ready-to-wear garments were originally developed in the nineteenth century. These systems are frequently based on outdated anthropometric data, they lack standard labelling and generally do not accommodate the wide variations of body sizes and proportions that exist today. However, major technological improvements have made new population data available worldwide, with the potential to affect the future of sizing in many ways. New developments in computer-aided design and sophisticated mathematical and statistical methods of categorising different body shapes can also contribute to the development of more effective sizing systems. This book provides a critical appreciation of the key technological and scientific developments in sizing and their application.