What is a size chart and why it matters for your brand

A visual representation of the measurements associated with different clothing sizes in a brand, a size chart outlines the key measurements on the body, allowing customers to confidently select the right size when making a purchase. 

Why Your Size Chart Matters

A simple, yet somewhat overlooked tool, getting this right is an important step not to be missed as it acts as a vital bridge between your design vision and the diverse array of body shapes and sizes of your customers and helps with:

1. Consistency and Brand Credibility
Consistency in sizing across your product range establishes credibility for your brand. Customers are more likely to trust and return to a label that offers reliable and accurate sizing information.

2. Reducing Returns and Improving Customer Satisfaction:
Accurate size charts help customers make informed decisions, reducing the likelihood of purchasing ill-fitting garments. This, in turn, minimises the number of returns, fostering a positive customer experience.

3. Inclusivity and Diversity
Fashion is a celebration of diversity, and your size chart reflects this ethos. By offering a comprehensive range of sizes, you ensure that individuals of all shapes and sizes can find something that suits them, promoting inclusivity and diversity in your brand.

4. Building Customer Confidence
A customer who feels confident about their purchase is more likely to become a repeat customer. Accurate size information boosts confidence by eliminating the guesswork and apprehension associated with online shopping.

When creating your brand size chart, there are two main charts you need to consider:

Your base or sample size chart

This is the size chart you use throughout the design and development stage and base your sample products on. It reflects the key measurements of your target customer.

Your customer size chart

This is the table of measurements housed on your website to help customers determine the right size for their individual body shape.

When selling products online, it is also important to consider the fit as well as the fabrics used within each style and to call these out in your item descriptions. Highlighting the specific fit and features such a ‘classic’, ‘loose’ or ‘slim’, as well as mentioning the size the model is wearing including their height, also plays a crucial part in ensuring your customers make the right decisions.

What measurements are included in a size chart?

The key measurements you need to include in your size chart are the BUST, WAIST, and HIPS, see our step-by-step guide below for taking the most accurate measurements for your size chart.

How to create a size chart for your brand

When developing a collection, whether it be by engaging a pattern maker or by using reference samples, it is important to have the measurements of your base / sample size chart on hand.

To obtain these measurements one has to consider what size their sample size / base size is, which is often done by considering your clientele and target market. These measurements are then taken from a fit model or the person whom the brand feels best represents the sample size / base size.

For example, if you are a brand that is designing a collection for a petite range and you consider yourself to be petite in sizing, you may decide that you will be the fit model for your brand and the sample / base size measurements will be taken from your body.

If you’re using reference samples for the fit of your styles

You would find samples already in the market that best fit your body for each style in your collection.

For example, If you intend for a t-shirt to have a looser fit, then the reference sample you acquire must fit your body in this same way. If it does not fit the way you’d like for the style to fit but requires little tweaks, you can search for a better reference sample or make adjustments and notes accordingly by using our very handy guide here > What is a reference sample and why you need on in the design development Process?

If you’re engaging with a pattern maker:

Most pattern makers will base this off a standard Australian size 8 for the particular style of garment, however, it’s more than likely that you will go through multiple sample rounds to produce the base block for your sample size to get the most accurate fit. The most costly of the two, we advise talking with your Visionise project manager to discuss which option is best suited to your brand.

ALWAYS REMAIN CONSISTENT WITH SIZING THROUGHOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS AND ACROSS ALL FUTURE COLLECTIONS

Always use the same fit model throughout each sample round, and ensure they maintain their original measurements for continued accuracy and consistency across the range and all future collections. 

As without you run the risk of not only frustrating your customers with an inconsistent customer experience, but increasing your production costs and creating inefficiencies in your design process.

Do you need help creating a size chart for your brand? Book a free discovery call with our team and chat with an expert.

A step-by-step guide on how to take body measurements for your size chart

Tools you will need:

Measuring tape

Tape it away:

Bust: Loosely fix the tape measure at nipple height and wrap it around the body.
Waist:  Find the halfway point between your lowest rib and the top of your hipbone (which should be roughly in line with your belly button), take a deep breath, relax and measure.
Hip: To measure your hips, find the widest part of your bottom and wrap around making sure the tape is horizontal.

A few key things to keep in mind when measuring:

1. Ensure your measuring tape is taught and not tight or too loose when measuring
2. Always check the measuring tape you will be using for accuracy, as zero doesn’t always start right at the edge of the measuring tape.
3. Always measure from the top of the body and work your way down, this way you don’t leave out any key measurements.
4. Maintain a relaxed posture during the process
5. Always take each measurement twice, they should be within 0.5cm of each other