Ministry of Textiles plans to launch the long-awaited INDIAsize initiative, a study designed to create standardized garment measurements better suited to Indian body types, at the Bharat Tex 2025 event, to be held later this month.
According to Neelam Shami Rao, Textiles Secretary, the ministry will make anthropometric data publicly available for industry feedback before officially adopting standardized measurements for retail apparel. It will conduct a Masterclass with numerous sessions with the industry, notes Rao. The ministry will also release a set of anthropometric data publicly for industry input on any necessary adjustments or nuances.
Rao made these remarks while the unveiling of the Bharat Tex 2025 app and website. A major textile exhibition scheduled for February 14-17, 2025, Bharat Tex 2025 is expected to attract over 5,000 exhibitors, 6,000 international buyers from 120 countries, and more than 120,000 visitors.
Currently, both international and domestic brands in India use US or UK sizing conventions (small, medium, large, etc.). However, Western body types differ from Indian body types in height, weight, and specific body part measurements, often leading to fitting problems. The INDIAsize project will address these discrepancies and inconsistencies in garment fit by developing standard body sizes for the Indian apparel sector.
