A Study of the Apparel Sizing of Children's Wear - An Analysis of the Size Increments Utilized in Children’s Wear Based on an Anthropometric Survey -

The purpose of this research is to analyze how appropriately the sizing of domestically produced children's wear compares to children's sizes; it is based on an anthropometric survey conducted in 1998. By discovering and understanding discrepancies between the sizing system of children s wear and the real size of children, this study aims to suggest solutions that will lead to increased comfort and more suitable fitting in children's clothes. This research analyzes and compares 'the extent of growth between age groups' with 'the difference in sizing system in use by manufacturers'. The study focused on aged 4 to 12 children, who are usually divided in two groups; primary students and toddlers. In total, seven sizes were selected: bust, waist, and hip (which are girth sizes), and height, back neck to waist (top length), sleeve length, and waist to ankle (slacks length) as representing length. The results of this research are analyzed by basing on the actual increments between the sizes of children's wear in certain basic items rather than sizes themselves because each size quite differed according to companies, items and designs. Significantly, the increase in the sizing was not as great as the average biennial growth rate of children. The consequences are poorer fit and unsuitable representative value for each age group because the actual sizes of children increasingly differ from the sample size. Observing the increments in several sizes, we found that 81.8% of the companies used the certain and equal increases for grading sizes in sleeve length, waist, and bust. In addition, 72.7% of the companies adopted the same increments between sizes in height and hip girth, and 63.6% also chose equal increments in T-shirt length for making smaller or bigger sizes from the sample size. However, sleeve length and pant length were the components that displayed the most varied sizing. Interestingly, the few companies that used different increments between size groups, adopted the change only between one or two size groups, instead of all sizes. In conclusion, this research reveals the unsuitability of the current sizing system and the necessity to increase consumer confidence in the size tags on children's wear by modifying the system to reflect the actual growth of children. The results can also contribute to future study on the development of a new and more accurate sizing system for children's wear.