As I have previously commented the discrepancies in size labelling on garments often leaves consumers confused and with a t-shirt several sizes too small or large. However now help is apparently at hand for clothing companies to deliver better fitting garments and eradicate the problem.
The Textile/Clothing Technology Corporation, based in North Carolina, is an apparel technology research and education organisation funded by the United States Department of Commerce and by private firms in the soft goods industry. Its mandate is to serve as a research and demonstration centre of emerging technologies and business processes in the apparel industry.
A product of this ongoing operation was an investigation into the feasibility of introducing body scanning technology into the apparel measuring system. They conducted a survey, entitled ‘SizeUSA’, of 10,000 men and women’s body shapes and sizes – an equivalent was conducted in the United Kingdom and is entitled ‘SizeUK’. The results of this survey have been utilised by many companies, including such recognisable brands as Victoria’s Secret and Chico’s. The survey was so successful that Size Thailand and Size Mexico equivalents are already underway, with several more planned in other major market areas. There are also many commercial organizations offering body-scan solutions for apparel companies such as Human Solutions.
With American clothing giants such as JC Penney utilising the findings of the survey for their size labelling it is surely only a matter of time before the system is expanded and adopted throughout the industry. If carried out on a global scale this technology could make clothes shopping over the internet far simpler than going to the shops and trying clothes on to determine a best fit, with a best fit already determined for you.
