Overview
ISO 8559-2:2025, "Size designation of clothes - Part 2: Primary and secondary dimension indicators," defines the body measurement indicators to be used for clothing size designation. It establishes which primary dimensions (PD) and secondary dimensions (SD) are appropriate for different garment types (jackets, trousers, skirts, underwear, corsetry, hosiery, gloves, headwear, etc.) so manufacturers and retailers can communicate the body sizes a garment is intended to fit. The standard is the second edition and complements ISO 8559-1 (anthropometric definitions for body measurement).
Key technical topics and requirements
- Primary and secondary dimensions: PD is the body measure used to designate garment size for consumers (expressed in cm). SD are additional body measures that may be shown (also in cm, except some items such as pantyhose that use kg).
- Garment mapping: Tableed guidance links specific PD/SD choices to garment types for men, women, boys and girls (e.g., jacket PD = chest girth; trousers PD = waist girth; hosiery PD = height or weight).
- Cup size: Defined as the difference between bust girth and underbust girth (expressed in cm).
- Labeling and marking: Graphical labelling should use the pictogram given in ISO 8559-1:2017 (or an equivalent silhouette) and provide numerical PD/SD values and descriptive terms (e.g., “chest girth 94–98”). Dimension ranges must be shown as minimum–maximum (e.g., “174–178” cm).
- Measurement basis: Size designation is based on body measurements, not on garment measurements; garment allowances are left to designers and manufacturers.
- Documentation: Annex A shows label examples; Annex B (new in this edition) provides supporting size information. The standard references ISO 8559-1 and other parts in the 8559 series.
Practical applications and users
- Manufacturers and pattern developers: adopt consistent PD/SD mapping for product lines.
- Retailers and e-commerce platforms: present clear, comparable size information to customers to reduce returns.
- Quality assurance and compliance teams: ensure labels and product information meet international practice.
- Designers and fit engineers: select which body dimensions to prioritize for sizing systems.
- Consumer advocacy and standards bodies: evaluate sizing transparency and interoperability.
Benefits: improved size consistency across brands, better consumer fit decisions, reduced returns and waste, and alignment with responsible consumption goals (UN SDG 12).
Related standards
- ISO 8559-1:2017 - Anthropometric definitions for body measurement (mandatory reference for PD/SD positioning and pictogram).
- Other parts of the ISO 8559 series (see ISO website) for complementary sizing guidance.
Keywords: ISO 8559-2:2025, size designation, clothing sizes, primary dimension, secondary dimension, body measurements, garment labelling, apparel sizing, ISO 8559.
