Exploring the relationships of grading, sizing, and anthropometric data

Grading is the process used to accomplish the sizing of manufactured clothing. The focus of our research was to question the belief that the foundation for grading is size measurements that are based on anthropometric data. Our review of literature established that grading preceded size charts. Forty size charts for women's clothing were examined for correspondence with anthropometric research. Four structural assumptions that did not match anthropometric research were identified. Criteria were developed and applied to upper torso measurements. Only 17% of the measurements were found useful for grade rule formation. Grade rules were compared to size intervals from a concurrent sizing standard. Eleven of 38 grade rules corresponded to body measurements, and 6 did not match the related size interval. New measurements for grade rules were recommended.