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So size DOES Matter?

New research to understand the different Malaysian body types and shapes aims to address the as yet unresolved challenge faced by ready-to-wear manufacturers to produce garments that enhance the comfort and fit of a majority of the diverse population in Malaysia.

Since the birth of ready-to-wear garments (RTW), clothing fit and sizes have been studied and improvised throughout the world to enable mass production using basic patterns based on a sizing system. However, to date there has been no investigation done on sizing and fit for the clothing industry in Malaysia. One of the aims of the research, therefore, is to employ the use of anthropometric data for the development of a new sizing system aligned to specific target populations. As anthropometric data is obtained from the measurement of real bodies, a new sizing system based on that data will provide better comfort and clothing fit.

The research, carried out by lead researcher Norsaadah Zakaria, together with Associate Professor Dr. Jamil Salleh from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, Professor Dr. Mohd Nasir Taib, from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Associate Professor Dr. Yap Bee Wah from the Faculty of Information Technology and Quantitative Sciences, provides a comprehensive study of children’s body measurements (anthropometric data) to structure a new sizing system. It also precisely looks at the major ethnic groups in Malaysia, namely the Malays, Chinese and Indians from both urban and rural areas.