Textile and Apparel Industries

Fitting the Concept of Fit: A Systematic Review of Literature

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Abstract

Fit is a fundamental requirement for a clothing system, yet existing research shows considerable variation in how clothing fit is defined and assessed. This systematic review examined 50 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2024 to identify how scholars have conceptualized clothing fit and the methods used to evaluate it. The review focused on women's clothing fit due to documented variability in women's body shapes and higher dissatisfaction with apparel fit. Findings show that fit studies fall into three categories: subjective, objective, and multidimensional. Subjective studies emphasize wearer perceptions, psychological experiences, and personal satisfaction. Objective studies evaluate measurable garment-body relationships through tools such as 3D body scanning, virtual simulations, and anthropometric analysis. Multidimensional studies integrate both approaches to capture the interaction between quantifiable garment properties and wearer evaluations. The results highlight the need for greater consistency in definitions and assessment methods to support future research and industry applications. 

Keywords: Clothing fit, Apparel fit, Fit assessment, Subjective fit, Objective fit, Multidimensional fit

How to Cite:

Derafshi, M. & Black, C., (2025) “Fitting the Concept of Fit: A Systematic Review of Literature”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 82(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.21913