Fit assessment of slopers for women with disproportionate figures

Abstract

The four body types are the: Hourglass/ideal body shape, triangular/pear/bottom heavy shape, and rectangular body shapes. An individual with an hourglass is regarded as having a proportionate figure, whereby the girth measurements (bust, waist and hip) conform to those on the sizing charts, have a 25cm smaller waist than bust/hip) and varied back waist lengths (Defty , 1998, and Simmons et al, 2004). The other three figure types are regarded as disproportionate, and they rely on custom-made clothing, or alter garments after purchasing in order to achieve proper fit and satisfaction with the apparel, or still end up purchasing two different sizes of the same style for top and skirt. Currently, basic blocks of different sizes are designed based on a proportionate figure. A disproportionate figure is any discrepancy of shape/size found on an individual’s figure that does not comply with the accepted standard body measurements of an average figure (Defty, 1998). This study was conducted in Swaziland with purpose of evaluating fit of standard and developed slopers for women with disproportionate figures. Objectives of the study were to develop slopers for bottom heavy women and compare fit on test garments sewn from new slopers and standard slopers