KENYA STANDARD  DKS 559-
1:2021 
ICS 59.080  
Fourth   Edition  
  
 © KEBS 2021  
 Men’s and boys’ trousers  — Specification  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
ii © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTATION  
The following organizations were represented on the Technical Committee:  
Moi university –Department of Industrial and Textile Engineering  
National Industrial Training Authority (NITA)  
Ministry of Industrialization and Trade  
Alpha K nits Ltd  
Technical University of Kenya(TUK)  
Ministry of Health  
Vidyesh H&F Group Ltd  
COTECNA Inspection Kenya  
Spinknit Ltd Nakuru  
Kantoor Brands Inc  Ltd 
Kenya Bureau of Standards — Secretariat  
REVISION  OF KENYA STANDARDS  
In order to keep abreast of progress in industry, Kenya Standards shall be regularly reviewed.  Suggestions for 
improvements to published standards, addressed to the Managing Director, Kenya Bureau of Standards, are 
welcome.  
© Kenya Bureau of Standards, 2021 
Copyright. Users are remi nded that by virtue of Section 25 of the Copyright Act, Cap. 130 of 2001 of  the Laws of Kenya, copyright subsists 
in all Kenya Standards and except as provided under Section 25 of this Act, no Kenya Standard produced by Kenya Bureau of Sta ndards 
may be rep roduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or transmitted by any means without prior permission in writing from the 
Managing Director.   KENYA STANDARD  DKS 559-
1:2021 
ICS 59.080  
Fourth    Edition  
 
© KEBS 2021  – All rights reserved  iii 
  Men’s and boys’ trousers  — Specification  
 
Part 1:  
 
Making up requirements  
Kenya Bureau of Standards, Popo Road,  Off Mombasa Road,  
P.O. Box 54974 - 00200,  Nairobi, Kenya  
 +254 020 6948000, + 254 722202137, + 254 734600471  
 info@kebs.org  
 @KEBS_ke  
 Kenya  bureau of standards (kebs)  
  
 
iv © KEBS 2021 – All rights reserved  
 Foreword   
Foreword  
 
This Kenya Standard was prepared by the Technical Committee on Ready Made Garments under the guidance 
of the Standards Projects Committee, and it is in accordance with the procedures of Kenya Bureau of Standards  
 
This standard was formulated with a view t o help manufacturers in producing goods of satisfactory quality. 
Manufacturers and others concerned are urged to label the men's and boys' trousers in accordance with KS 
412, Specification for size designation for men's and boys' ready -to-wear clothing and  KS ISO 3758, Textiles — 
Care labelling code using symbols.  
 
This fourth edition  cancels and replaces third edition of KS 559 -1:2019  which has been technically revised.  
  
 
During the preparation of this standard, reference was made to the following document:  
 
IS 7414, Specification for men’s trousers' — General requirements.  
 
Acknowledgement is hereby made for the assistance received from this source.  
 
  
© KEBS 2021  – All rights reserved  v 
  KS 559 -1 
© KEBS 2021  — All rights reserved                      2 1.Scope  
 
This Kenya Standard specifies requirements for Men’s and boy ’s trousers.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of  their content constitutes 
requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, 
the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
KS 412, Specification for size design ation for men’s and boys’ ready to wear clothing  
KS 520, Specification for woven fabrics used for suits, jackets and trousers  
KS 585, Specification for zippers   
KS 665, Specification for textile labels  
KS 697 -1, Code of practice for grading of textile materials Part 1: Fabrics  
KS 2234, Denim fabrics — Specification   
KS ISO 3758, Textiles — Care labelling code using symbols  
KS EAS 223:2001Zippers - Specification.  
KS 398 Specification for thermosetting plastic button  
KS ISO 8559 -1:2017  Size designation of Clothes -Part 1: Anthropometric defi nitions for body measurement  
KS ISO 8559 -2:2017 Size designation of Clothes -Part 2: Primary and se condary dimension indicators.  
 
3 Terms and  Definitions  
 
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in KS 8559 part 1 and 2 shall apply   
 
4  Requirements  
 
4.1 Size designation  
 
The size of the men trousers  shall be designated by waist girth  and height  for the  boys’ trousers  
Note: height  – The measurement from the crotch to the bottom hem.  
 
 4.2  Fabric materials  
 
4.2.1  The fabrics for the manufacture of trousers shall comply with the requirements of KS 520 and 
KS 2234.  
 
4.2.2  The pocket lining material shall confor m to KS 214 -2  
 
4.2.3 Raw edges of pockets shall be properly secured to prevent fraying.  
 
4.3 Waistband   
 
4.3.1 The waistband shall be made of double thickness of body material or the body material on the outside 
and belting material .  
 
4.3.2 A shirt gripper may be attached to the centre of the facing of the waistband.  
 
4.3.3 The left front of the waistband shall extend for 6 cm beyond the centre front seamline.  The waistband 
may be fastened by a button or hook and bar.  
 
4.4  Fly and button stand   
 
4.4.1  The button catch and stand shall be lined with either body material or lining of tightly woven cotton 
poplin or blend fabric.  
 
4.4.2 The button end or the fly shall be either bartacked or tacked with 3 rows of machine stitching. Four KS 559 -1:2021  
 
© KEBS 2021  — All rights reserved           3 buttons/buttonholes s hall be provided in the fly in addition to those provided in the waistband for men's trousers 
and three button/buttonholes for boys' trousers. As an alternative to buttons, zippers  and snaps  may be used.  
 
4.5 Hems   
 
4.5.1 The bottoms of the regular trousers may be hemmed.  
 
4.5.2 The hem shall be sewn in place with a slip -stitch or hemming stitch for turned under or seam binding 
finishes and a blind stitch for overcast finishes.  
 
4.5.2 The completed hem shall be inconspicu ous from the outside and the raw edges finished securely 
without bulk.  
4.6  Securing belt  loops   
If the trousers are provided with belt loops, the ends of loops shall be reinforced with three rows of stitches or 
securely stitched.  
 
4.7  Buttons   
 
The buttons shall be of good quality and comply with KS 398 for buttons .  
 
 
4.8 Seams and stitches  
 
 The trousers shall be assembled with stitches regulated at not less than 4 stitches per cm.  
 
4.9 Seam width   
 
All seams shall be not less than 1 cm.  
 
4.10 Stitch finishing and quality   
 
All stitches used shall be present a good finish free from defects.  
 
4.11  Outlet allowance   
 
An outlet allowance of 4 cm in addition to the seam allowance shall be provided at the back seat seam near 
the waistline.  
 
4.12 Trouser defects  
 
4.12.1 The trousers shall be free from the following fabrication defects:  
 
a) Stains.  
 
b) Defective stitching.  
 
c) Loose ends of sewing thread getting easily frayed.  
 
d) Hole, cut or tear.  
 
e) None -alignment of pockets, buttons and buttonholes.  
 
f)   Any other defect which would significantly mar the appearance or affect the serviceability of the garment.  
 
 KS 559 -1: 2021  
                              © KEBS 2021  — All rights reserved  4 4.13 Eyelets and hooks   
 
Eyelets and hooks shall be rust -proof.  
 
4.14 Zippers   
 
Zippers  shall comply with  the requirements of KS EAS 223   
 
5 Marking and labelling  
 
5.1  Each garment shall bear a permanent label complying with KS 665 including the following information:  
 
a) The manufacture r's name or identification mark  
 
b) Care labelling  in accordance with KS ISO 3758  
 
c) The size  to be designated by waist  girth and addition  of height in case of boys ’ trousers.  The size 
designation may be put on a detachable  hang tag  
 
d) Fibre composition of the fabric  
 
e) Country of manufacture.  
 
6.2  The permanent label or hang tag shall be positioned as to be easily readable.  
 
6 Packaging  
 
Each pair of trousers shall be packaged in such a way so as to avoid soiling in storage as well as transit.