Improving garment fit. A challenge for industry

A questionaire was developed and administered to 107 female subjects. These women ranged in age from 18 to 40 years and showed high interest in fashion and apparel and wore clothing in average size ranges Misses 8 - 14 and Junior 9 - 13. As this sample is representative of a prime market for women's clothing manufacturers, the opinions of these consumers should be of interest to decision makers in the industry. Results indicated that this sample was not very satisfied with the fit of ready-to-wear. Subjects were satisfied with the abundance of fashionable clothing in their size ranges, but were less satisfied with search for and purchase of clothing to fit their individual bodies. Subjects were asked to rate satisfaction with fit at specific garment areas. This sample was least satisfied with fit at lower body areas. Subjects also responded to open-ended questions giving their suggestions to apparel manufacturers for improving quality of fit and ways that manufacturers might communicate fit dimensions to the consumer.