In the last decade, clothing manufacturers discovered that when a female consumer compares two similar garments, she invariably chooses the one with the smaller size number, and therefore sizing has become a RTW marketing ploy. Many sewers are dismayed to find that their pattern size is two sizes larger than their RTW size. By comparison to RTW sizing, the standardized sizing used by the major pattern companies has remained consistent for more than three decades. Around that time, the major pattern companies agreed to adopt these standards and have used them ever since. In fact, no such law exists.
Compliance is, and always has been, strictly voluntary.
ASTM has published sizing standards for misses, children's and mature women's sizing. Presently, ASTM is conducting a new study that targets the dimensions of large people. This technology was developed by the Navy, which contracts for millions of uniforms, all of which go up to a size 22 and occasionally to size 32. In addition to the military, study sponsors include the automotive and airline industries, so perhaps there's hope for expanding the width of airline seats and the length of seat belts. Used by permission.