ISO launches international standard for clothing sizes

The International Organization of Standardization (ISO) has adjusted its series of standards for clothing sizes, to better fit consumers worldwide. The result should be that fewer customers return clothing to stores.

Fewer returns

The new ISO 8559 series of standards is based on several communities and clothing companies will use it to create new clothes and mannequins. The goal is to boost customer satisfaction and lower the number of store returns. A new system to indicate sizes will also be launched, designed to show customers which body type matches the item.

“They will also help to reduce barriers to international trade by providing a universal set of size markings and terms of reference”, explained Reena Pandarum, chair of the technical committee behind the new ISO 8559 series. The International Organization for Standardization is an independent international organisation with a membership of 164 national standard bodies. It provides standards for almost every industry, from technology, to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare.