EN 13402 - A European Clothing Size Standard
EN 13402 is a European standard for labeling clothes sizes. It is based on body dimensions, measured in centimetres. It aims to replace many older national dress-size systems, starting in the year 2006.
There are three approaches for size-labeling of clothes:
- body dimensions: The product label states for which range of body dimensions the product was designed. (Example: bike helmet labelled “head girth: 56–60 cm”, shoe labeled “foot length: 28 cm”)
- product dimensions: The label states characteristic measures of the product. (Example: jeans labeled with their inner-leg length in centimeters or inches, i.e. not the – several centimeters longer – inner leg length of the intended wearer)
- ad-hoc size: The label provides a size number or code with no obvious relationship to any measurement. (Example: Size 12, XL)
Traditionally, clothes have been labeled using many different ad-hoc size systems. This approach has led to a number of problems:
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