What is apparel pattern Grading & Sizing?
- Reyburn Brown
- Feb 24
- 1 min read
Updated: Aug 4
Apparel pattern grading and sizing are often confused, but they serve different purposes in garment production. The difference between the two is that:
Grading
Grading refers to the process of creating different sizes of a garment from a base size pattern.
It involves adjusting the dimensions of the pattern to accommodate various body sizes while maintaining the design's proportions.
Grading is typically done using specific increments for each size (e.g., small to medium, medium to large).
Sizing
Sizing refers to the classification of garments into specific size categories (e.g., small, medium, large).
It is concerned with the end consumer's fit and how the garment is labeled for retail.
Sizing can vary between brands and regions, as there is no universal sizing standard.
In summary, grading is the technical process of creating multiple sizes from a base pattern, while sizing is about how those sizes are categorized and labeled for consumers.
Think of grading like you would the alphabet, A-B-C-D-E-F-G.
A is small, D is medium and XXL is G. The more letters there are the longer the size range. Reyburn
Two sisters can be the same size, but a different shape. That's why some clothes look better on some people, they are closer to the estimated industry standard. Reyburn