The Clothing Manufacturers’ Federation, in 1980, recommended that in the short term manufacturers should show a metric conversion of their imperial measurements on their garment labels.

However as manufacturers move towards a complete metric system, they should follow the continental system of sizing, e.g.:

Men’s outerwear: suits, jackets, coats – 4 cm interval between sizes and the inclusion of the 100 cm chest size.

Trousers – 4 cm interval between waist sizes. Shirt – 1 cm interval between neck sizes. Additional information such as leg lengths on trousers or arm lengths on shirts may be included on the labels additional information by a manufacturer.

The British Standards Institution has established a size designation system that indicates (in a simple, direct and meaningful manner) the body size of the man that a garment is intended to fit. The size designation of the system is based on body and not garment measurements.

The size designation of each garment should comprise the control dimensions in centimeters of the intended wearer of the garment. Where practicable, the standard pictogram should be used as a means of indicating the size designation. Where it is not practicable to use the standard pictogram, the numerical value of the control dimensions should be given, together with the descriptive words such as chest girth, waist girth, etc).

SAMPLE SIZES

Manufacturers produce sample garments, which are used to show to buyers. The sample size will depend on used to type of market at which the design is aimed.

The sample size of suits and causal wear is usually based on the 100cm chest size and the 39cm or 40cm neck (collar) size for shirts.

The sample size of high fashion suits and shirts aimed at the very young man is usually 96cm chest size and 38cm or 39cm neck (collar) size for shirts.

The medium size in casual wear will very between 96cm and 100cm chest depending on its market.

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