A study on consumer's preference for size labeling system of womens's ready-to-wear garments

This study was initiated to investigate (1) whether consumers preferred a specific garment size labeling system and (2) whether consumer's demographic characteristics, clothing behavior, and body size affect their preference of size labeling systems. The survey of consumer's preferences for five size labeling systems included 443 women with 20 to 64 years of age. The result of the survey showed that the subjects' preferences of five size labeling sysems were different significantly. Subjects strongly preferred the old system rather than the revised systems. The subjects least preferred the system with pictogram(system D) and the system with description of the measuring methods of te control dimensions (system E). The subjects/ preference for various garment size labeling systems was different depending on their resident area, educational level, and body size. The garment size labeling system with more information on body measurements (system C) was preferred by the subjects living in the metro city area or subjects having difficulties on purchasing ready-to-wear garments giving reasonable fit. The simplest size labeling system (system A) was strongly preferred by the subjects of low educational level, or the subjects living in the small city.