This British Standard is one of a series which deals essentially with the size designation of clothing, and is not directly concerned with sizing systems as such.
The primary aim of this and other British Standards in this series is the establishment of a size designation system that indicates (in a simple, direct and meaningful manner) the body size of the woman that a garment is intended to fit. Provided that the shape of her body (as indicated by the appropriate dimensions) has been accurately determined, this system will facilitate the choice of garments that fit.
The size designation system is based on body and not garment measurements. Choice of garment measurements is normally left to the designer and the manufacturer, who are concerned with style, cut and other fashion elements, and who must make due allowance for garments normally worn beneath a specific garment.
Definitions and body measurement procedure are prescribed in BS 5511 which is applicable to all categories of clothing.
BS 3666 is the standard that specifies a system of designating the size of women’s outerwear and underwear garments that are classified as:
Both the control dimensions on which the size designation system is based, and the method of indicating the size designation on a garment label, are specified.
BS 3666 also contains details of a size coding scheme, which is to be included on the garment label together with the control dimensions.
The Clothing Standards Committee, under whose direction this British Standard was prepared, consists of representatives from the following:
ISO 3637:1977