The textiles ministry is close to finalising a national apparel sizing framework, with discussions leaning towards adopting alphabetical sizes such as S (small), M (medium), and L (large), said a government official. “Sizes have been fixed…Focus is now on defining the acceptable variation within each size category, as revising the standards after they are notified would be challenging,” the official told ET. The broader aim is to keep it simple and adopt a standard that has familiarity in the country, the official said, pointing out that generally people aren’t very comfortable with numerical sizes. Small, medium, and large apparel sizes resonate with a larger consumer base, the official said.
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A task group comprising industry representatives, retailers, and the ministry is now firming up the finer details of the framework.
Local Body Types
These would be based on a detailed anthropometric study conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) of more than 25,000 men and women, aged 15 and above.
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The task force is also deliberating body measurements that need to be standardised such as shoulders, waist and other key dimensions besides the overall size matrix. “Considerable work has been done,” the official said. “Most of these parameters have been finalised…”
Most apparel brands in India currently rely on US or UK sizing charts, even though Indian body types differ from Western populations, often resulting in fitting issues. Moreover, there are variations in sizes across retail chains and brands.
Through the new framework, the government aims to make apparel sizing more consumer-friendly, as part of the ministry’s broader push towards standardisation in the textile sector. It will also help apparel manufacturers improve garment fit for consumers.