The Importance of Fit Testing in Comparison to User Testing

We always say, if a product doesn’t fit the body, it won’t be worn, no matter how cute the design. It ultimately plays in your subconscious when picking what to wear. As creatures of comfort, we will ultimately seek comfortable apparel and wearables.  

It is no secret, that the apparel industry is a highly competitive and dynamic sector that demands the highest levels of quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction to stay relevant. Producing garments that meet customer expectations is crucial for the success of apparel designers, developers, and brands. Two critical processes ensure fit, comfort, performance, and function, they are fit testing and user testing. Fit testing is the process of checking the fit of garments on one base size, then progressing through iterative prototype development to fitting on different body types and sizes, once that established sample size is approved for design and fit.  User testing involves testing garments on actual users to evaluate their comfort, usability, and overall satisfaction over a longer period. While both fit testing and user testing are essential in the apparel industry, fit testing is arguably more critical for several reasons.

While both fit testing and user testing are essential in the apparel industry, fit testing is arguably more critical for several reasons.

Firstly, fit testing is more objective than user testing in that it captures quantitative and qualitative data each time a prototype is evaluated. User testing relies on subjective feedback from individual users, which can vary widely depending on personal preferences and perceptions. Fit testing, on the other hand, involves measuring and evaluating the fit of garments objectively, using quantitative standardized measurements and evaluation criteria, plus qualitative observations by the technician as well as the fit tester/model. The fit tester/model is also an important part of this process as fit testers are expected to maintain consistent body measurements during the development cycle to ensure iterative prototypes are accurately evaluated each prototype turn. This upfront process in the design and development cycle makes fit testing essential for the success of the product in the early development stage. This process is again, the primary factor that will meet consumer expectations that garments fit well, are comfortable, and that they enhance their appearance.  If a garment does not fit well, it may cause discomfort or dissatisfaction, fit testing helps apparel technical designers to identify and address fit issues before garments reach a production readiness stage and the market.

Secondly, fit testing is more efficient and cost-effective than user testing, by helping apparel brands to reduce waste, identify risks, and costs early. When garments do not fit well, they are more likely to be returned, which results in additional costs for the brand. Fit testing can help brands identify and address fit issues early in the production process, reducing the likelihood of returns and minimizing waste. This, in turn, leads to cost savings and improved profitability. Fit testing can be performed in virtual environments, on mannequins or fit models, which allows brands to evaluate the fit of garments quickly.

Thirdly, fit testing also helps apparel brands establish their fit blocks which is often linked long-term to how consumers perceive and identify with a brand and allows a brand to establish its foundation for all styles, thereby reducing some iterative processes. By testing new designs during development and advancing to fitting the styles on different body types and sizes, brands can identify patterns and trends in fit issues. They can then use this information to improve their patternmaking, grading, and sizing processes to produce garments that fit better.

Last, fit testing is also crucial in the context of sustainability. The apparel industry is known for its significant environmental impact, and reducing waste is a critical aspect of sustainable production. By reducing the likelihood of returns and minimizing waste, fit testing, especially when it starts in virtual environments, can help apparel brands reduce their environmental impact and improve their sustainability credentials.

User testing is important though, it is not a step that should be missed.

In contrast, user testing happens at a later stage in the development process and is more of an investment from a cost and timing standpoint. If internal personnel are not utilized, recruiting and compensating individual users, setting up testing environments, and collecting and analyzing feedback can become a lengthy process adding to the length of the development cycle. This can be a significant barrier for smaller apparel brands who may not have the resources to conduct extensive user testing. User testing is important though, it is not a step that should be missed. By contrast user testing can be conducted over full day or days to weeks, depending on the study parameters.  This is helpful when compared to a fit test, or a fitting, which can take place from a few minutes to generally an hour. During this time while qualitative and quantitative feedback is collected, the span of time the fit tester and the technical designer has to review the garment is much less than a user test and can sometimes cause issues to be overlooked.  

While both fit testing and user testing are essential in the apparel industry, fit testing is arguably more critical because it identifies risks early allowing teams to make corrections and pivot the fit, materials, construction, and trims before large investments are made in producing additional samples for user testing, and ultimately bulk production. As such, fit testing should be an essential part of any apparel brand’s development process, for early risk management.

If you are considering working with an external design and development company for technical design, fit testing, user testing, and wear testing guidance and support, check us out, The Squad Nation.