Articles on: Sizing & Fit

Why do sizes vary between brands?

Because there's no law requiring brands to use the same sizing system. Historical country standards (German, Italian, French) evolved separately, and transitioning to a unified system (EN 13402) is expensive and slow. Brands resist standardization when it means retagging millions of products.

The honest breakdown

1. No legal requirement for standardization

EN 13402 exists (the EU sizing standard), but it's voluntary.

What that means:

Brands CAN use it
Brands are NOT required to use it
No penalties for using proprietary sizing

Why not make it mandatory? EU regulations focus on safety (CE markings, protective standards), not sizing consistency. Sizing is considered a commercial choice, not a safety issue.

2. Historical country standards

Different European countries developed their own sizing systems decades ago, based on local population measurements.

German sizing:

Based on German body measurement studies from mid-1900s
Tends toward generous fit (designed for durability workwear with room to move)
Waist sizes in cm (e.g., size 50 = 94-98 cm waist)

Italian sizing:

Based on Italian population measurements
Tends toward slimmer, more tailored fit
Different proportion assumptions (chest-to-waist ratio)

French sizing:

Yet another system
Different measurement points and ranges

Scandinavian sizing:

Designed for cold climate workwear (room for layering)
Often more generous than Central European sizing

All valid. All different. No one forced to change.

3. Cost of transition

Switching to EN 13402 is expensive:

For brands:

Retag inventory: Millions of items need new size labels ($$$)
Update patterns: Redesign sizing for manufacturing
Train staff: Factories, warehouses, sales teams all need retraining
Risk confusion: Customers used to old sizing get confused

Example:

A mid-size workwear brand with 500,000 units in inventory would spend €50,000-€100,000 just to retag products—not including pattern updates, training, or communication.

Small brands can't afford it. Large brands don't see the urgency.

4. Competitive advantage

Some brands keep proprietary sizing intentionally.

Why?

Customer lock-in: "I'm a size 50 in Brand X, so I keep buying Brand X"
Differentiation: "Our sizing is designed specifically for [body type/climate/work type]"
Perceived quality: "We use traditional German sizing, not generic EU standards"

It's frustrating for customers, but it works as a business strategy.

5. Different target markets

Brands optimize sizing for their primary market:

German brands (targeting German workers):

Sizing based on German population measurements
May not fit Italian or Nordic workers as well

Italian brands (targeting Mediterranean markets):

Sizing optimized for slimmer, shorter average build
May run small for Northern European workers

Scandinavian brands (targeting cold climates):

Generous sizing for layering thermal wear underneath
May run large for workers in warmer climates

No one sizing fits everyone everywhere. Brands pick their target audience and optimize for that.

What IS standardized (and what isn't)

Standardized:

✅ Safety ratings (S1, S2, S3 for boots)

✅ CE markings (protective equipment compliance)

✅ Material disclosures (fabric content labels)

✅ Care instructions (washing symbols)

NOT standardized:

❌ Size numbers (38, 40, 42 mean different things per brand)

❌ Fit characteristics (slim, regular, generous)

❌ Measurement points (where exactly chest is measured)

❌ Size ranges (one brand's XL = another's L)

Why the difference? Safety is regulated. Sizing isn't.

EN 13402: The EU sizing standard

What it is

EN 13402 is a voluntary European sizing standard based on body measurements in centimeters.

Example size label:

96 / 100 / 108
96 = chest (cm)
100 = waist (cm)
108 = hip (cm)

Benefit: Completely unambiguous. No "what does size 50 mean?"—it tells you exact body measurements.

Why brands aren't using it (yet)

Reasons:

Cost (retagging inventory)
Customer confusion ("What happened to my usual size 50?")
No competitive pressure (if competitors aren't switching, why should we?)
Legacy systems (factories, warehouses, sales systems all built around old sizing)

Transition is happening, but slowly.

Brands that HAVE adopted EN 13402

Some progressive brands already use it:

Clearer for customers
Reduces returns (customers pick right size first time)
Easier for international sales

We're encouraging more brands to make the switch. But we can't force them.

What we're doing about it

1. Pushing brands toward EN 13402

How:

Offering to help brands implement it (guidance, label templates)
Showing data: "Brands with clearer sizing have fewer returns"
Making it easy: We handle the communication to customers

Progress: Some brands are transitioning. Others resist. It's a multi-year effort.

2. Clearer size charts on every product

What we're adding:

Actual measurements in cm (not just size numbers)
Multiple measurement points (chest, waist, sleeve, inseam)
Visual guides where helpful

Goal: Even if brand uses proprietary sizing, customers can still pick the right size by comparing measurements.

3. Fit feedback from real customers

On some products, you'll see:

"Runs small—order one size up"
"True to size for German brands"
"Generous fit—size down for slim fit"

Source: Real customer reviews and returns data.

Not every product has this yet, but we're building it out as more orders come through.

4. Better support for sizing questions

Before you order, contact us:

We can:

Interpret a brand's sizing system
Compare brands ("Brand A runs larger than Brand B")
Recommend sizes based on your measurements

You don't have to guess.

Will sizing ever be fully standardized?

Realistic timeline:

Short term (1-2 years):

More brands adopt EN 13402 voluntarily
Better size charts and fit feedback on our platform
Gradual improvement, not overnight fix

Medium term (3-5 years):

Majority of brands using EN 13402 or clearer measurement-based sizing
Industry pressure pushes holdouts to switch

Long term (5-10 years):

Could see EU regulation requiring EN 13402 (if customer complaints reach critical mass)
Industry-wide standardization

Or it might never happen. Some brands will always use proprietary sizing for competitive reasons.

What you can do

1. Always check the brand-specific chart

Don't assume. Measure yourself, check the chart, order based on measurements.

2. Order multiple sizes if unsure

Free return shipping makes this risk-free. Order 2-3 sizes, keep what fits, return the rest.

3. Leave feedback after ordering

If sizing was confusing or inaccurate, tell us. Your feedback helps:

Improve size charts
Push brands to clarify sizing
Help other customers avoid wrong sizes

If sizing was clear and accurate, tell us that too. We'll highlight those brands.

4. Ask us before ordering

Big order? Team order? Unsure about sizing?

Email us with:

Product link
Your measurements
What you're trying to achieve (close fit vs room for layers)

We'll recommend sizes based on the specific brand.

Questions?

Frustrated with sizing inconsistency? Us too. We're pushing brands to standardize, but it takes time. In the meantime, we're here to help you navigate it.

Contact info:

Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy: frage@droppe.com / +49 15735984668
Finland: kysy@droppe.fi / +358 45 4909908
Sweden: fraga@droppe.com / +46 76 692 47 11

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Updated on: 06/11/2025

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