ESSENCE—IJERC International | Ojha & SharmaJournal for(2018) Envir | IXonmental (1): 38—44 Rehabilitation and Conservation ISSN: 0975 — 6272 IX (1): 38— 44 www.essence-journal.com

Original Research Article

A Study on Fitting Problems in Men’s Traditional Ready to Wear Garments (Upper wear)

Ojha, Sulekha and Sharma, Charu

Department of Fashion and Textile Technology, The IIS University, Jaipur,

Corresponding Author: [email protected]

A R T I C L E I N F O Received: 12 January 2018 | Accepted: 22 April 2018 | Published Online: 15 August 2018 DOI: 10.31786/09756272.18.9.SP1.158 EOI: 10.11208/essence.18.9.SP1.158 Article is an Open Access Publication. This work is licensed under Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) ©The Authors (2018). Publishing Rights @ MANU—ICMANU & ESSENCE—IJERC.

A B S T R A C T

Fit is a primary factor for determining comfort and look in clothing. The main objective of this study is to identify the fitting problems faced by male consumer in traditional Ready-to- Wear garments and to view the preference and satisfaction of male consumers towards Raja- sthani Traditional Ready-to-Wear garments on the basis of various factors. The study was divided in to two age groups 18-35 years and 36-60 years. The traditional Rajasthani gar- ments which are included for the study are the most saleable garments in the market. The consumer survey was conducted to collect the data through questionnaire method. Problems in various garment areas in traditional ready-to-wear garments, consumer preference and sat- isfaction are also been discussed in the study. The result reveals that majority of consumers are most of the times concern about the fitting problems in ready-to-wear garments. Majority of consumers have recommended sizing labels to be as letter coded (S, M, L, XL) and also suggested improvement in body measurements.

K E Y W O R D S FIT | Rajasthani Traditional Garments | Ready-to-Wear Garments | Consumer Preference | Satisfac- tion.

C I T A T I O N Ojha, Sulekha1 and Sharma, Charu (2018): A Study on Fitting Problems in Men’s Traditional Ready to Wear Garments (Upper wear): An Important Mineral for Women . ESSENCE Int. J. Env. Rehab. Conserv. IX (1): 38—44. https://doi.org/10.31786/09756272.18.9.SP1.158 https://eoi.citefactor.org/10.11208/essence.18.9.SP1.158

38 ESSENCE—IJERC | Ojha & Sharma (2018) | IX (1): 38—44 Introduction 2. The respondents for the study were men in Fit is an important criteria in apparels because it is age group between the 18-35 years and 36-60 directly related to the physical comfort of the years. wearer as well as the clothed body viewed by the 3. The study was conducted in Jaipur city. public. Although consumer’s dissatisfaction with Review of Literature fit has a negative impact on purchasing decisions Sindicich, (2008) has documented in his research as meeting the needs of every person in terms of that there are issues with existing men’s business fit preference is difficult for apparel companies as clothing. While women’s clothing is often stud- ready-to-wear clothes are made for consumers ied, men’s clothing deserves more attention in with normatively proportioned bodies and for the scientific research. The high prevalence of dissat- mass production. Well-fitted garments are defined isfaction with business clothing indicates short- as those that are comfortable to wear, allow suffi- comings in the ready-to-wear offerings available cient ease for freedom of movement, conform to to male consumers. The study showed no link present day fashion and are also free of wrinkles, between clothing interest level and reporting rate sags or bulges (Madhu, 2002). From the consum- of clothing issues, future studies of fit and sizing er’s point of view, the ‘Fit’ of the clothing is the issues do not need to take into account the effect most important attribute and how it conforms to of interest on the accuracy of their results. The the body structure. The desired fit in clothing variables not measured in the study, fit threshold changes with fashion(Lupo, 1987). Fit and com- and fit criteria, will be important to quantify for fort are the prime features a consumer looks for in the population in future studies. clothing. Fit is a specific attribute that depends on Laitala, et al. (2011) has conducted the study to the wearer. A garment either fits or does not fit a find out which consumer groups are the most dis- particular wearer (Ryan, 1966). satisfied with today’s sizing systems and which Men's traditional clothing in nowadays con- consumers are these. The study concluded three sists of fusion of western and Indian styles such as things: the manufacturers must label the sizes cor- with or with different rectly, the consumers must understand and trust styles. Traditional Indian clothing such as the the size labeling, and the clothes must fit the con- has been combined with jeans to form part sumers’ bodies. Less than 1% of the respondents of casual attire. Fashion designers in India have could always use the same size. Consumers tend blended several elements of Indian traditional de- to blame themselves when the clothes do not fit signs into conventional to create a their bodies, while their study has pointed out that unique style of contemporary Indian fashion. The the industry is to blame, as they do not produce costumes which are taken for the study in the re- clothing for all customers. search are Kurta, Sherwani and Jackets. Methodology Objective Locale of the study: The study was conducted The main objectives of the research were: within the Jaipur city with the method of random 1. To identify the problems faced by men in tra- sampling in area sampling. The city was divided ditional ready-to-wear garments from the age into four parts East, West, North and South. groups of 18-35 years and 35-60 years. Sample size: The total sample size of the re- 2. To collect information regarding the satisfac- spondents was taken as 200. 50 consumers from tion of male consumers in regards with men’s the each part of the city were taken for the study traditional ready-to-wear garments. as respondents in which 25 consumers of age 3. To access the preference of male consumers group 18-35 years and 25 consumers of age group towards men’s traditional ready-to-wear gar- of 36-60 years were participated. ments. Sample selection: The research was done by Limitation of the study selection of Multi-stage sampling method in 1. The study is limited to the men’s Rajasthani which consumer survey was conducted with ran- Traditional wear which includes only Sherwa- dom sampling in area sampling. ni, Kurta and Nehru Jackets. Data Collection: Both the primary and second- ary data collection methods were considered. The

39 ESSENCE—IJERC | Ojha & Sharma (2018) | IX (1): 38—44 primary data was collected through a question- naire designed exclusively for the study. The sec- ondary data was collected through journals, arti- cles, and internet. Analysis of Data and Interpretation: After the collection of the desirable data through question- naire, the data was be analyzed and the final result was evaluated through the transferring the data to the excel sheet. Then the data was evaluated by putting the desirable and suitable tests. Results and Discussion

Graph 4.4: Reasons for preferring traditional Ready-to-Wear garments N=200

Graph 4.1: Consumer concern about the fit of traditional Ready-to-Wear garments. n=200

Graph 4.5: Effectiveness of sizing system with Letter coded Labels (S, M, L, XL) N=200

Graph 4.2: Fit problems experienced by pur- chasing Ready-to-Wear traditional clothing. n=200

Graph 4.6: Effectiveness of sizing system with Num- ber coded Labels (32, 34, 36, 38 , 40)N=20

Graph 4.3: Fit of traditional Ready-to-Wear garments N=200

40 ESSENCE—IJERC | Ojha & Sharma (2018) | IX (1): 38—44

Graph 4.7(a) Graph 4.7 (e)

Graph 4.7 (b) Graph 4.7 (f)

Graph 4.7 (a, b, c, d, e, f): Problems faced in Graph 4.7 (c) various areas by consumers with the fitting of upper ready-to-wear traditional garments (Sherwani) N=200

Graph 4.8 (a)

Graph 4.7 (d)

Graph 4.8(b)

41 ESSENCE—IJERC | Ojha & Sharma (2018) | IX (1): 38—44

Graph 4.8 (c) Graph 4.9 (a)

Graph 4.8 (d) Graph 4.9 (b)

Graph 4.8 (e) Graph 4.9 (c)

Graph 4.8 (f) Graph 4.9 (d)

Graph 4.8 (a, b, c, d, e, f) : Problems faced in vari- ous areas by consumers with the fitting of upper ready-to-wear traditional garments (Kurta): N=200

42 ESSENCE—IJERC | Ojha & Sharma (2018) | IX (1): 38—44 Summary and Conclusion Graph 4.9 (e) The study was conducted to identify the fitting problems faced by men in traditional ready-to- wear upper garments. The study was divided be- tween two age groups of 18-35 years and 35-60 years. The study reveals that the male consumers are concerned about the fit most of the times in traditional ready-to-wear garments of both the age groups and they both have mostly experienced fit problems with purchase of their garments. The majority of male consumers of age group of 18-35 years described fit of ready-to-wear garments as good; whereas majority of consumers of age Graph 4.9 (f) group of 36-60 years described fit as average. The study also indicates the reasons for choosing ready-to-wear garments. The three major reasons are good fit of the garment, style/latest trend/ variety and price by both of the age groups. The consumer from both age groups have shared their thoughts about the present sizing system and rec- ommended changes about sizing labels which they want. The study further reveals that majority Graph 4.9 (a, b, c, d, e, f): Problems faced in various of male consumers want sizing labels to be in let- areas by consumers with the fitting of upper ready-to- ters as (S) Small, (M) Medium, (L) Large, (XL) wear traditional garments (Nehru or Other Jacket): Extra Large. The consumers have also suggested N=200. improvements in fit by various factors, in which the majority suggested that the body measure- ments should be improved. References LaBat, K. L. and DeLong, M. R. (1990): Body Cathexis and Satisfaction with fit of Apparel. Clothing & Textiles Research Journal, 8(2). Anderson, L. J.; Brannon, E. L.; Ulrich, P. V.; Presley, A. B.; Woronka, D.; Grasso, M. and Stevenson, D. (2001): Understanding Fitting Preferences of Female Consumers: Develop- Graph 4.10: Consumer satisfaction: N=200 ment an Expert System to Enhance Accurate Sizing Selection. National Textile Center An- nual Report. McRoberts, L. B. (2005): Petite Women: Fit and Body Shape Analysis. Louisiana State Uni- versity and Agricultural and Mechanical Col- lege. Sindicich, D. K. (2008): Interest and Needs in Men's Business Clothing. Florida State Uni- versity College of Human Sciences. Kinley, T. R. (2009): Fit and shopping prefer- ences by clothing benefits sought. Journal of Graph 4.11: Suggestion on improving fit of Ready- Fashion Marketing and Management, 14(3). to-Wear clothing: N=200

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