Italy displays new dimensions

Summary of the SizeITALY project

From August 2012 until the end of December 2013, the body dimensions of more than 6,000 men, women and children aged between 6 and 75 were acquired at 18 measuring sites throughout Italy. Measurement was carried out in four postures, one sitting and three standing. Cutting-edge 3D scanner technology was used for the procedure, which is contact-free.

An electronic twin (scan) of the participant based on a single cycle's measuring points – numbering around half a million – is created on the PC. 44 dimensions like height, chest and waist circumference were acquired from this twin for the apparel industry. The data acquired remains anonymous, but it does include socio-demographic information like gender and age ... and all of this data is available at anytime for additional analyses. Participating companies can use the Online Portal (portal.i-size.net) to access this wealth of data for target group and company-specific analyses.

Contact-free measurement in the 3D scanner.

The reasons behind the serial measurement survey

The body proportions of the Italian population have changed significantly in recent decades – on average, this generation is larger and taller than their parents and grandparents. The result is that more and more people find it difficult to find apparel with an optimal size & fit in the stores. The solution to this is a representative survey of current body measurements – exactly how it was tackled by Sistemi Assyst in the SizeITALY project, with the support of the apparel industry and retail trade.

Implementation in the apparel industry

The companies from trade and industry involved in the SizeITALY project are currently reviewing the results of the serial measurement survey. The goal in future is to be able to offer consumers apparel with optimized size & fit.

Providing the data via the iSize portal

The results of SizeITALY are made available to participating companies using an Internet portal developed by the Human Solutions Group for company-specific evaluations. This provides maximum flexibility for dynamic analyses that can be adapted to individual customer profiles in terms of age, for example and other socio-demographic characteristics – ensuring that the SizeITALY partners possess a significant market advantage. The data in the portal is also protected against unauthorized access by a multi-stage backup process that ensures investment security for the participating companies.

Sistemi Assyst has been a reliable technology partner of the Italian apparel industry for more than 25 years. It helps companies like Diesel, Max Mara, Belvest and Lovable to develop their products in a customer-oriented and market-driven way.
To succeed in this, these companies have to work increasingly faster — and become more cost efficient at the same time. In the intensive development world of the Fashion sector, this can only be achieved through the right product and size & fit information.

As part of the Human Solutions Group, Sistemi Assyst offers the perfect technologies and data for this:

• Accomplishment of the first Italian series measurement survey — SizeITALY — with 6,000 test persons
• Integrated 3D, CAD and PLM solutions for efficient collection development in the world of fashion.
• Body dimension data right into CAD for size & fit optimization in the apparel industry.
• ERP and integrated management systems for shorter lead times in fashion.

The Human Solutions Group has 200 employees. Its products are sold worldwide, either directly by the Group or through partners in 50 countries. The Human Solutions Group encompasses: Sistemi Assyst srl (IT), Assyst GmbH (D), Human Solutions GmbH (D), AVM Solutions GmbH (D) und Human Solutions  d/b/a Assyst (USA).

The most important changes in body dimensions

"L´Italia si misura", the last serial measurement program in Italy, took place in 1990 and 1991. The following changes were determined In the female Italian population between the ages of 18 and 65 (compared to the average values of 1990/91):

The average Italian women:
height, chest and waist circumference and weight. 

Height: an increase of around 0.5 cm.
Chest circumference: an increase of around 11.4 cm.
Waist circumference: an increase of around 7 cm.
Weight: an increase of around 2.3 kg.

The following changes were determined for the male population between 18 and 65, independent of ready-made sizes (in comparison to the "L´Italia si misura"). This also reflects a shift towards larger ready-made sizes in menswear.

The average Italian man:
height, chest and waist circumference and weight.

Height: an increase of around 0.8 cm.
Chest circumference: an increase of around 7.6 cm.
Waist circumference: an increase of around 4.2 cm.
Weight: an increase of around 3.1 kg.