Mexico Needs Its Own Clothing Measurements, Study Finds
Isn't it the worst when you just can't find a pair of jeans that fit right? Well, according to a new survey that's exactly what men and women of Mexico are going through -- all the time.
Women's Wear Daily reports shoppers in Mexico have been complaining of sizing issues with clothing for years, generally stating the clothes are never big or long enough for the population. This problem also has Mexican retailers losing out on an estimated $4 billion dollars because of the high rate of returned goods from their customers.
But all that's about to change thanks to a group of retailers who surveyed the average weight and height of Mexican men and women across 14 cities and several regions. According to the survey:
Average Mexican female ages 18 to 25 is 1.60 meters, or 5 feet 2 inches, tall and weighs 62.9 kilograms, or 138 pounds. Men of the same age range are 1.67 meters, or 5 feet 5 inches, tall, with an average weight of 77.30 kilograms, or 170 pounds.
So what does all of that information mean? It means the Mexican body is different from the body that American, Spanish and European manufacturers design for, and thus requires the creation of the much needed "Mexican molde," or a pattern designed for Mexican people. This will hopefully help both the consumer and the clothing industry, said Carlota de la Vega, director of Fashion Group International in Mexico:
“[Manufacturers] will see how different a Mexican woman’s body is compared to a Spanish or Argentine one. Buyers will have a better idea of what sizes to bring to the market... Many stores carry sizes that don’t fit Mexicans. Some brands’ pants are often too long, with waists in European or American sizes that can be too small for this market. Now, manufacturers and retailers can have more certainty about the right size for their target segment."
Women's Wear Daily reports shoppers in Mexico have been complaining of sizing issues with clothing for years, generally stating the clothes are never big or long enough for the population. This problem also has Mexican retailers losing out on an estimated $4 billion dollars because of the high rate of returned goods from their customers.
But all that's about to change thanks to a group of retailers who surveyed the average weight and height of Mexican men and women across 14 cities and several regions. According to the survey:
Average Mexican female ages 18 to 25 is 1.60 meters, or 5 feet 2 inches, tall and weighs 62.9 kilograms, or 138 pounds. Men of the same age range are 1.67 meters, or 5 feet 5 inches, tall, with an average weight of 77.30 kilograms, or 170 pounds.
So what does all of that information mean? It means the Mexican body is different from the body that American, Spanish and European manufacturers design for, and thus requires the creation of the much needed "Mexican molde," or a pattern designed for Mexican people. This will hopefully help both the consumer and the clothing industry, said Carlota de la Vega, director of Fashion Group International in Mexico:
“[Manufacturers] will see how different a Mexican woman’s body is compared to a Spanish or Argentine one. Buyers will have a better idea of what sizes to bring to the market... Many stores carry sizes that don’t fit Mexicans. Some brands’ pants are often too long, with waists in European or American sizes that can be too small for this market. Now, manufacturers and retailers can have more certainty about the right size for their target segment."