SYDNEY: Portmans, Target, Sussan and Alannah Hill have been fingered as being among the worst offenders when it comes to discrepancies in Australian clothing sizing standards.
The brands were among several visited by consumer watchdog group Choice as part of a broader investigation into the need for a national sizing survey.
The report, compiled by Choice investigative journalist Kate Browne, saw Browne visit a series of women's clothing stores in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall where she was found to range in size from a 10 (Sussan and Target) to a 14 (Portmans and Alannah Hill).
The report, released today (May 28), argues that widespread clothing size irregularities and a lack of data on the changing shape of Australians highlight the need for a national sizing survey.
See below for a sneak glimpse of the report:
Those interviewed include fashion blogger and journalist Patty Huntington, Council of the Textiles and Fashion Industries of Australia head Jo Kellock and Ragtrader editor Tracey Porter.
Browne confirmed a number of Australian fashion brands declined an invitation to take part in the report.
As a precursor to the report, Choice yesterday hosted a roundtable discussion group on the subject that invited a small group of fashion bloggers and reporters - among them Melissa Hoyer, The Vine's Natalie Smith, Jenna Dunne from The Grand Social - to relay their thoughts on the subject.
In the last federal budget the government agreed to provide funding to seek advice from the National Measurement institute on the costs and benefits of forming a voluntary industry standard.
As a result of yesterday's meeting, Choice is considering engaging its policy group to help generate a consumer campaign aimed at encouraging the government to investigate the need for a sizing standard as a matter of urgency.