Fun Facts: Industry Size

Have you ever wondered why the size you wear for clothes off the rack is not the same as a sewing pattern?  The sewing pattern size is usually about two to three sizes larger.  Another discrepancy is that a size 6 at Old Navy is not the same size 6 at Banana Republic..or The Gap ....or Macys....or...  You get the picture.  What's that about?

During the 1940s-1950s the US government had taken measurements from thousands of Caucasian American women.  Using this statistical data, they came up with the US clothing standard sizes.  The overall average of these women was size 8 (36" bust x 26"waist x 36" hip).

This became the "industry size 8" from which all fashion designers drafted patterns from (which is still used today).  At that time, size 8 was the same no matter where you went or who's clothing label it was.  All was right in the world.....

But not for long.  Clothing labels (marketing research dept) started to figure out that women bought more of their clothing over all when they put "size 6" on a garment that was really a size 8!

Soon the word got out and other companies started the same practices.  Everyone was making up whatever number suited their products. 

Thus bringing us to our present predicament.  So don't brush off that dressing room, it could be your best friend!