Fitting issue of garments has impact on the customer’s buying decision. The main concern of customers especially teenagers and women is to purchase garments that have proper fitting and yet fashionable. Although cuts and styles of the clothes we buy is important, the more important factor that influences the buying decision is the proper fitting which is according to the person’s body structure. Clothes are not only for body protection and covering, but also have social and emotional aspects attached to them. For example - a petite girl wearing clean and proper fitted clothes that are not too tight and loose would look more flattering then another petite woman who wears tight fitting non-clean dress.

The garments which after wearing does not show any wrinkles, pulls or unnecessary fluffiness is of proper fit. Also the clothes with right placed seams, darts and grain lines has good fitting. The importance of proper fit of garment varies with its type. Like in case of tight fitting dress smallest of misfit is quite visible and noticeable, whereas for loose fitting clothes 100% proper fit is not required and does not make much difference. Even if the fabric is of high quality, craftsmanship on the dress excellent, but if the fitting is not up to the mark then other things does not matter.

Apart from the customers, the readymade garment manufacturers and retailers also bear the consequences in terms of loss of time, resource and damage to merchandise due to fitting issue problems. Although the problem might seem not so big, but in the form of return of purchased clothes, non-satisfaction towards the brand and time taken in trial rooms puts additional expenses on the seller. Whether a particular garment is purchased or rejected is decided on the bases of its fit. Customer satisfaction depends upon the designing, style and most important the fit & size of the garment. Apart from visual attractiveness the comfort level of the well fitted clothes is more preferred. Generally garments with not so good fitting lie unused most of the time in our closets.

Even if the garment is made of high quality fabric with excellent work on it and of latest style, the customer would not be enough motivated to buy it in absence of proper fit. Women and children are two segments of customers whose number of return of ill-fitting clothes is more than other age groups and sex. Due to it the sales declines and unnecessary costs build up on the retailer’s head.

However well fitted clothes do not imply that they have to be body hugging or tight, different types of dresses and garments need different degree of fitting, like the right fitting criteria for evening wear and nightwear is different. According to a survey done on teenage boys and girls, the readymade garments do require some alteration to be made and also one is ready to shell out few extra bucks for better fit.

The most common criteria for judging the fitting size are, whether hemline is even or not, seams on vertical front should be straight, darts that are narrowed extending before the wide part of the body they are given to shape up, neckline comfortable and shoulder seam a & waistline seam in accordance.

The different issues related to the fitting and sizing of the readymade garments are as follows:

Sizing criterion

Every brand before producing ready-made garments in bulk quantity, first examines the general types of fitting and sizing that could be given for a particular set of population. The main concern of the manufacturers and retailers about fit issue is which size should be made and how they are to be labeled. The customers are also included with the problem of proper fit as they are directly or indirectly connected to it. It is not possible to adopt particular sizing criteria for the clothes of women, children and men at an international level. Therefore the garment manufacturers set the sizing standards according to their customer database and the information of retail shops. The sizing standards vary from one brand to another therefore the customers generally face dissatisfaction due to this factor.