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| Issue date:01/02/2010 |
| ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel - Feb 2010 Issue |
| Source:Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel |
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| Current measurements of the average German woman in contrast with measurements gathered in the representative size survey of 1994 (from the top): height, chest, waist and hip measurements |
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The German representative size survey, "SizeGERMANY", is a joint project of the international textile research centre, the Hohenstein Institute in Boennigheim, and Human Solutions GmbH of Kaiserslautern, a leading manufacturer of body scanning equipment. Up to now, more than 100 companies from the apparel and automotive sectors have taken part in financing the project and are ensured exclusive access to the measurement study results.
From July 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008, four measurement teams in working in 31 stations all across Germany took the measurements of 13,362 men, women and children ranging from 6 to 87 years of age. State-of-the-art, contact-free, 3-D body scanner technology was used to measure the subjects in one sitting and three standing positions. On the basis of some 400,000 measurement points gathered per session, electronic duplicates (scans) of the subjects were created on PCs. This data was used to extrapolate 44 body dimensions, such as hip and chest circumference, as well as 53 body dimensions for the purposes of technical ergonomics. The anonymous scans were coupled with socio-demographic data such as gender and age and are available at any time for further analysis. Participating companies can access this wealth of data from an internet portal for target groups and company-specific analyses.
Reasons for the representative size survey
The body proportions of Germany's population have clearly changed in the last decades. Today, we are taller and more substantial on average than our parents and grandparents. This means that more and more people are having difficulties finding optimally sized garments in retail stores. The first step towards resolving this is carrying out a representative survey of current body sizes, as is being done by the international research centre of the Hohenstein Institute and Human Solutions GmbH. These two partners are attacking the problem with the support of the garment industry, retailers and the automotive industry.
The most significant changes in body measurements
The last representative size survey for women was carried out in Germany in 1994. The following changes from the average values gathered in 1994 were identified for women between the ages of 14 and 70 years old – independent of clothes size. A shift towards larger clothing sizes has taken place.
• Height: increase of around 1.0 cm
• Chest: increase of 2.3 cm
• Waist: increase of 4.1 cm
• Hips: increase of 1.8 cm
Height of Women – Average According to Age Size Surveys of 1994 and 2009 in Comparison |
The last representative size survey for men took place in 1980. The following changes from the average values gathered in 1980 were identified for men between the ages of 16 and 70 years old – independent of clothes size. The results for men also indicate a shift towards larger clothing sizes.
• Height: increase of around 3.2 cm
• Chest: increase of 7.3 cm
• Waist: increase of 4.4 cm
• Hips: increase of 3.6 cm
The correlation between body measurements and size tables
The body measurements gathered in the course of the SizeGERMANY project provide the basis for what is known as the Hohenstein Sizing Chart, which has been in existence since 1957. It sets 44 dimensions for garment sizes that serve as the basis garment manufacturers use to create fashions for women (German abr. DOB), men (German abr. HAKA) and children (German abr. KIKA).
The average German man with measurements in contrast to those gathered in the representative size survey in 1980 (from the top): height, chest, waist and hip measurements |
Chest measurements are the fixed point of reference for garment sizes. In women's sizes, for example, Size 36 always has a chest circumference of 84 cm. Following every representative size survey, all the other dimensions are revised for the respective sizes. The virtual human bodies are classified into groups (clusters) according to their chest measurements. Their other individual dimensions will be considered by experienced clothing technologists. In order to arrive at a good size for as many people as possible, further clusters are determined in relation to chest measurements and the secondary body dimensions, such as hip measurements for women and waist measurements for men.
Shifting of market shares The data from the representative size survey are used in addition to the Hohenstein Sizing Chart to determine the distribution of garment sizes throughout the entire population. Using the SizeGERMANY website, the companies taking part will in future be able to access individual analyses according to specific socio-demographic groups, for example, the market share of garment sizes for specific age groups.
Comparisons of average values from the previous representative size survey and SizeGERMANY show a shift towards larger garment sizes for both men and women over 18 years of age. The market share of the smaller and taller sizes has remained relatively stable.
Height of Men – Average According to Age. Size Surveys of 1980 and 2009 in Comparison |
Effects of changes in body dimensions on vehicle development and ergonomics Changes in body dimensions must of course also be considered in the development of new vehicles for the future. The need, however, is not quite as urgent as it is in the garment industry. Automobile manufacturers develop their products to fit some 95% of the population. While doing that, they also account for – to put it simply – shorter women (5th percentile) and taller men (95th percentile). And, in recent years, car makers have also made what they call an "acceleration allowance" for older body measurement data. These allowances account for the increase in size in younger segments of the population. This data has been programmed into computer-aided, or 3D CAD systems, such as the ergonomic tool RAMSIS, for years. Therefore, the results from SizeGERMANY will require hardly a change to the design of current vehicles.
The new data, however, will allow predictions for the future to be made much more precisely. And Human Solutions is already working in preparation for that time. A new acceleration simulation for partners in the automotive industry will be able to forecast the increase in size of the German population until 2040.
The current Size 36 incorporating changes since the representative size survey of 1994 (from the top): height, chest, waist and hip measurements |
Implementation in the garment industry
The retail companies that have taken part in the SizeGERMANY project are currently examining the results of the representative size survey. The aim is to be able to offer consumers optimally sized apparel in future. But due to the long ordering run times, it will only be possible to incorporate the new measurement data in upcoming product pre-runs.
Unlike previous representative size surveys, the results of SizeGERMANY will not be published in print form. Instead, they will be made available to participating companies via an internet portal developed by Human Solutions that may be used for company-specific analyses. This will allow the greatest degree of flexibility for dynamic analyses that can, for example, be tailored to customer profiles based on age or other socio-demographic characteristics, and give SizeGERMANY partners a considerable advantage in the market. In addition, the data on the site are shielded from unauthorized access through a multi-layered system that guarantees the security of partner companies' investments.
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| Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Any party needs to reprint any part of the content should get the written approval from Adsale Publishing Ltd and quote the source "ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel", Adsale Textile English Website - www.AdsaleATA.com. We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprints any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiry, please contact Editorial Department. |
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| Copyright © Adsale Publishing Limited. Any party needs to reprint any part of the content should get the written approval from Adsale Publishing Ltd and quote the source "ATA Journal for Asia on Textile & Apparel", Adsale Textile English Website - www.AdsaleATA.com. We reserve the right to take legal action against any party who reprints any part of this article without acknowledgement. For enquiry, please contact Editorial Department. |
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