Sizing for the apparel industry using statistical analysis - a Brazilian case study

Abstract

The study of the body measurements of Brazilian women used the Kinect Body Imaging system for 3D body scanning. The result of the study aims to meet the needs of the apparel industry for accurate measurements. Data was statistically treated using the IBM SPSS 23 system, with 95% confidence (P<0,05) for the inferential analysis, with the purpose of grouping the measurements in sizes, so that a smaller number of sizes can cover a greater number of people. The sample consisted of 101 volunteers aged between 19 and 62 years. A cluster analysis was performed to identify the main body shapes of the sample. The results were divided between the top and bottom body portions; For the top portion, were used the measurements of the abdomen, waist and bust circumferences, as well as the height; For the bottom portion, were used the measurements of the hip circumference and the height. Three sizing systems were developed for the researched sample from the Abdomen-to-Height Ratio - AHR (top portion): Small (AHR < 0,52), Medium (AHR: 0,52-0,58), Large (AHR > 0,58) and from the Hip-to-Height Ratio - HHR (bottom portion): Small (HHR < 0,62), Medium (HHR: 0,62-0,68), Large (HHR > 0,68).