One of the most effective ways to provide a seamless shopping experience your brand could produce is by providing accurate and comprehensive size charts. A well-constructed size chart enhances the customer experience and reduces the likelihood of returns and exchanges. This saves your brand time and other resources. This blog post will guide you through the steps of creating a size chart for your brand.
Creating effective size charts involves understanding the different types of charts and their specific purposes. Here, we will explore the various types of size charts that your brand may need to implement.
Internal size charts are used by designers and custom manufacturers to create consistent patterns across all products. These charts serve as the starting point for the development of new garments. Internal size charts ensure each piece fits according to the brand's standards. Charts are typically semi-permanent and only need updating if there are significant changes in the brand's demographic or design direction.
Internal size charts are also vital for understanding the brand’s “ideal body type.” This involves defining the specific body measurements that the brand’s target audience typically has. For instance, if your fashion brand targets young, athletic women, your internal size chart might reflect measurements that cater to this demographic. See why we have to be very specific for custom manufacturing.
External size charts are visible to customers and provide key measurements to help them choose the correct size. These charts are typically included on product pages and are designed to be easy to understand. They convert the detailed measurements from internal size charts into a format that customers can use to make informed purchasing decisions.
External size charts should include essential measurements such as bust, waist, hips, and height, as well as any other relevant dimensions for specific garments. These charts help customers understand how a garment is supposed to fit and what size will work best for their body type.
Garment-specific size charts are detailed charts created for individual garments. These charts provide specific measurements for each size of a particular item, ensuring that customers have the most accurate information possible. For example, a dress size chart might include measurements for the bust, waist, hips, and length, while a pants size chart might focus on the waist, hips, and inseam. Garment-specific size charts are often updated regularly to reflect any changes in production or design.
Creating garment-specific size charts can be time-consuming, but they are invaluable for ensuring that each piece of clothing fits as intended. These charts are most important for clothes that have unique sizing requirements, such as fitted dresses, tailored suits, or specialty items like swimwear and activewear. By providing detailed measurements for each garment, you can help customers find the perfect fit and reduce the need for returns and exchanges.
Creating a size chart for your brand involves several critical steps, each designed to ensure that your charts are accurate, comprehensive, and easy to use. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create effective size charts tailored to your brand’s needs.
The first step in creating a size chart is to determine the sizing. This involves understanding your target audience’s demographics, lifestyle, and preferences. By defining your brand’s ideal body type measurements, you can create a size chart that accurately reflects the needs of your customers.
Begin by conducting market research to gather data on your target audience. You can include surveys, focus groups, and analysis of customer feedback. Understanding the average measurements of your target demographic will help you create a size chart that fits their needs. For example, a brand targeting young adults might have different size standards than one catering to older adults.
Once you have defined your brand’s sizing, the next step is to identify the key points of measure (POMs) that will make up your size chart. Different garments require specific measurements, so you’ll need to choose the relevant POMs for each garment type. Key POMs typically include bust, waist, hips, and height, but may also include other measurements such as inseam, sleeve length, and shoulder width.
For each garment type, consider what measurements are most important for ensuring a good fit. For example, a dress might require measurements for the bust, waist, hips, and length, while a pair of pants might focus on the waist, hips, and inseam.
Deciding on the size range your brand will offer is an important step in creating a size chart. This can vary based on your target market, the type of clothing you’re designing, and your budget. For example, a fashion brand offering diverse sizes may have clothing sizes from XXS to 3XL, while a smaller brand might only offer limited sizing in S, M, and L.
Using templates is an efficient way to create and organise your size charts. Tools like Excel or Google Sheets can be used to input and format the measurements for each size. There are also many online resources that offer free size chart templates, which can be customised to fit your brand’s specific needs.
When inputting measurements, make sure to include all the key POMs for each size. Organise the data in a clear and easy-to-read format, and consider including visual aids such as diagrams or illustrations to help customers understand how to measure themselves accurately.
Adding additional notes or instructions to your size charts can further enhance usefulness and customer experience. This might include fit descriptions (e.g., loose, regular, or tight fit), instructions on how to measure (e.g., where to place the measuring tape), and any other relevant information that can help customers choose the right size.
Fit descriptions are particularly important for helping customers understand how a garment is intended to fit. For example, a shirt might be described as “fitted” or “relaxed,” giving customers an idea of how it will look and feel when worn. When you provide detailed fit descriptions and measurement instructions, you help customers find the perfect fit and improve their overall shopping experience.
Finally, it’s important to regularly update your size charts to reflect any changes in your brand’s sizing standards or customer demographics. Continuously collecting feedback from customers and monitoring return rates can provide valuable insights into how well your size charts are working and where improvements can be made.
As the fashion industry continues to evolve, the need to refine and update size charts based on customer feedback and market trends remains critical. Brands must stay responsive to changes in consumer preferences and body measurements to ensure their size charts remain relevant and accurate.
Creating size charts in-house can be time-consuming and complex, especially for small brands or those with rapid product turnarounds. Spec to Sample offers professional trend forecasting and size chart creation services, leveraging expert knowledge and advanced analytics. By partnering with Spec to Sample, you can ensure your size charts are accurate, comprehensive, and tailored to your brand’s needs, freeing up your time to focus on design and marketing.
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