An empirical study exploring body perception and apparel fit preferences for South African women

Abstract

This empirical study examines the body shapes and apparel fit incongruities experienced by a convenience sample of South African women (n=155), aged 20 to 65 years. Also examined was the extent to which apparel manufactured using the currently-available/in-use sizing systems accommodate the women’s ready-to-wear apparel sizing and fit requirements.  

The findings are that the most prevalent body shapes assessed by a panel of experts, from a 3D rotational point cloud surface image derived from 3D body scans taken of the subjects were triangular/pear and rectangular. Conversely, this contrasted with the same perceived body shape in which the majority of subjects saw themselves as an hourglass, followed by the rectangular and triangular body shapes.  

Furthermore, the subjects’ perceptions of their ready-to-wear apparel sizes differed markedly from those derived from their under-bust and hip girths using a current published size chart developed using anthropometric data from a previous study of South African women. In terms of apparel fit, subjects reported particular problems with bust fit (too tight) and waist (too loose), all of which point to deficiencies in currently used size charts.  

From these data, the authors argue that there is a need for revision and updating of the South African apparel-sizing system and thus providing the apparel retail and manufacturing sectors with current and up-to-date body shape and body dimension statistics for the South African women’s-wear market.