Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular the different approval criteria needed for the different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).

ISO draws attention to the possibility that the implementation of this document may involve the use of (a) patent(s). ISO takes no position concerning the evidence, validity or applicability of any claimed patent rights in respect thereof. As of the date of publication of this document, ISO had not received notice of (a) patent(s) which may be required to implement this document. However, implementers are cautioned that this may not represent the latest information, which may be obtained from the patent database available at www.iso.org/patents. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not constitute an endorsement.

For an explanation on the meaning of ISO specific terms and expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO’s adherence to the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) see the following URL: www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html

This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 133, Clothing sizing systems ‒ size designation, size measurement methods and digital fittings, in collaboration with the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) Technical Committee CEN/TC 248, Textiles and textiles products, in accordance with the Agreement on technical cooperation between ISO and CEN (Vienna Agreement).

This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition ( ISO 8559-2:2017 ), which has been technically revised.

The main changes are as follows:

addition of Annex B.

A list of all parts in the ISO 8559 series can be found on the ISO website.

Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.

Introduction

Different sizing systems in different companies mean that different size designations can fit people with identical or very similar body measurements.

The primary aim of this document is to establish a size designation system that can be used by manufacturers and retailers to indicate to consumers (in a simple, direct and meaningful manner) the body dimensions of the person that the garment is intended to fit. Provided that the size of the person’s body (as indicated by the specified dimensions) has been determined in accordance with ISO 8559-1 , this designation system will facilitate the choice of garments that fit. This information can be indicated by labelling, etc.

The size designation system is based on body measurements, not garment measurements. The choice of garment measurements is normally determined by the designer and the manufacturers who make appropriate allowances to accommodate the type and position of wear, style, cut and fashion elements of the garment.

This document can be used as a reference document for an international size designation system for different types of garments.

This document has been developed within the context of UN Goal n°12 Responsible consumption and production. For example, to ensure size designation information remains accessible from one user to the next.

1 Scope

This document specifies primary and secondary dimensions for specified types of garments to establish a size designation system based on body dimensions (as defined in ISO 8559-1 ).

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Definition of primary and secondary dimensions in garments

5 Size designation

5.1 General

5.2 Garment dimensions

5.3 Garment with cups

6 Labelling and marking

6.1 Method

6.2 Examples of labels

Bibliography

ISO 8559-2:2025

Size designation of clothes — - Part 2: Primary and secondary dimension indicators

Current

Published:

18 Sep 2025

1 Scope