Plus Size Women Body Shape Analysis: An Implication for Developing a Sizing System

Female body shape plays a vital role in the development of standard sizing systems, which further leads to providing appropriate clothing fit. Fit is not only a concern in regular sizes, but its severity is extrapolated in the case of plus sizes. Body proportions of curvy women do not change proportionally; therefore, there is a need to analyze body shapes for this group. The body positivity movement impels worldwide researchers to work in this category. The current study aims to identify Indian plus-size women’s body shapes using the modified Female Figure Identification Technique (FFIT) for apparel mathematical formulas, drop value, and bust-to-waist ratio method. A total of 400 subjects from six Indian cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Shillong) participated in the research. Four girth dimensions: bust, waist, hip, top hip, and height were used to analyze plus-size bodies. Three sizing systems were developed using three apparel body shape identification techniques to identify the best-suited approach for plus-size subjects. Then, these were compared against each other based on cover percentage, aggregate loss, number of size groups, and size rolls. FFIT-based sizing system was the most suited approach to developing a system for plus-size subjects.