Even though the fashion industry claims to try to standardize sizes as much as possible, variation in size charts tend to appear even when looking at items of the same brand. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an universal size chart, and the likelihood of it ever existing is slim to none, and for good reason: we are all different, after all. But how does this affect the way shops and businesses sell garments, exaclty?
Convenience versus usability: sizing charts are not for everyone
Diversity makes us unique, so theoretically, grouping people based on patterns could be considered to be a mistake; but people do have some similarities in terms of body measurements, after all. Most stores try to take advantage of these similarities so they can work faster and sell more items, and at the end of the day, it's understandable that they do so. The pre-made diversity of these stores' product offering is important for their business models: the shapes of clothes, the sizes, and the fit are a form of intellectual property that makes the brands exclusive. It goes without saying that the particularities of the size charts these businesses use is a set-in-stone fact, which serves as an anchor point for their loyal customers: after all, once you know your size from one brand, you'll know what to get once you want to purchase it again, right?
But what happens to people who fall out of the fit that these brands target? Once trying a few garments out, they might realize that whatever size they go for, the fit won't be right for them, whatever they do. So does this mean that these shops simply don't care about the potential clients that fall out of the "generic" sizing schemes? Of course not — but that doesn't necessarily make it worth their time to do so.
The additional challenges that come with sizing charts
Have you ever come across an online shop that had an item that you wanted, only to realize it's from across the world, and is using a totally different measurement system? Let's be honest, most people casually shopping around don't know how to convert between inches and centimeters, and will have to spend extra time figuring out what the right fit is for them — if they even can. The confusion that is introduced with these kind of size chart differences might seem like a minimal one, but it is a surprisingly frequent way of losing out on a client's interest and business. Especially so if the differences cause a fit difference that also makes it impossible for the user to get the right size for themselves!
Every single one of us has ordered something online at some point of our lives (especially after COVID hit), expecting it to be a perfect match — and ended up getting something that was far removed from what our actual fit would be. At that point, people tend to sit and think hard (frustrated as they are) about what they've done wrong — after all, the size charts on the site said it would be the right size, right? Well, size charts aren't always accurate, either. Some are just randomly matching a size chart for wrong items (we’ve seen t-shirt tables matched with pants, as absurd as that sounds), while some are just uploading the wrong or old ones on every single product for their own convenience. And, of course, many other stores don’t even bother uploading their size tables, making you jump through hoops to even try to guess what would be the right fit for you.
The right solution for wrong sizing: Esenca
At Esenca, we're aware of each individual's needs and differences, and do our utmost to steer industries producing garments of any kind into acknowledging this. Our app is designed to address any shape, size, measurement, and fit, whether you're a business that creates workwear products, uniforms, fashion garments, or anything else.
With our app, you can help your users find 100+ measurements in less than 30 seconds, using only two photos taken by their smartphone cameras. The client only has to go through the process once, and their measurements can then be used for any item in your process. Through using Esenca, you can see drops in return rates of up to 60-70%, resulting in a definite return on investment that can further amplify your business's success.
If you're interested in trying Esenca out, don't hesitate to sign up for our free trial, or send us a message at hi@esenca.app, and we'll get in touch with you as soon as possible!
