Tvoi Agent
Italian sizing differs from German, French, British and American sizing, and every factory also has its own block patterns. For a shopper that is a fitting-room issue; for a buyer it is a returns issue: if the sizing does not match what your customers expect, the stock will sell poorly. This guide covers the typical conversions and practical advice on grading and fit. All charts are approximate: always confirm against the specific factory's measurements.
Womenswear: IT vs EU, UK, US and RU
In womenswear the Italian size is usually 4 above the French size and 6 above the German size. A typical conversion looks like this: IT 38 = FR 34 = DE 32 = UK 6 = US 2; IT 40 = FR 36 = DE 34 = UK 8 = US 4; IT 42 = FR 38 = DE 36 = UK 10 = US 6; IT 44 = FR 40 = DE 38 = UK 12 = US 8; IT 46 = FR 42 = DE 40 = UK 14 = US 10. The Russian size is generally 2 above the Italian one, so IT 42 roughly equals RU 44. Differences in cut and patterns can shift this by 1-2 sizes. Note that "EU" on a label can mean either the French or the German scale, so ask the supplier which system they use.
Menswear: jackets, shirts and trousers
For men's jackets and suits, the Italian size usually equals the UK or US chest size in inches plus 10: IT 48 corresponds to UK/US 38, IT 50 to 40 and IT 52 to 42. Russian men's jacket sizes usually match the Italian size or differ by one. In Italy shirts are often sized by neck circumference in centimetres (39, 40, 41), while in the US and UK they are sized by neck in inches (15, 15.5, 16). Italian brands often size trousers the same way as jackets (46, 48, 50) rather than by waist in inches. For every style, ask for the finished garment measurement chart, not just the size on the label.
Shoes: Italian, UK, US and Russian sizes
In footwear, Italian sizes are the same as European sizes. Approximate conversions for women: EU 37 is about UK 4 and US 6.5, EU 38 about UK 5 and US 7.5, EU 39 about UK 6 and US 8.5. For men: EU 42 is about UK 8 and US 9, EU 43 about UK 9 and US 10, EU 44 about UK 10 and US 11. The Russian shoe size is usually one below the European size (EU 38 is about RU 37), but this is only a rule of thumb. Italian lasts are often narrower and dress shoes tend to run small, so the most reliable reference is the insole length in centimetres that the factory gives for each size.
Why sizing varies from factory to factory
There is no mandatory size standard in the EU. The European standard EN 13402 describes how to designate sizes based on body measurements, but brands apply it in different ways or not at all. Every factory works from its own base patterns, built for a particular body type. The same size 42 from two Italian manufacturers can differ by several centimetres in chest and length. Slim fit and oversized styles shift the fit further. So in wholesale buying it is risky to rely on the size label. Work from the finished garment measurement chart: chest, waist and hip, body and sleeve length, shoulder width. Compare it with the bestsellers that already sell well for you.
Grading: how to spread sizes across an order
Grading is the step by which measurements change from one size to the next. In Italian womenswear it is often about 4 cm of chest circumference between neighbouring sizes, but every factory has its own. In made-to-order production, approve the base sample in one size, then check the smallest and largest sizes of the range: grading errors usually show up at the extremes. To split quantities by size, use your own sales data rather than a standard size curve. If your customers are, on average, larger than the Italian base size, extend the range upwards or adjust the patterns rather than simply changing the numbers on the label.
Fit advice for different markets
Italian clothing is generally cut slimmer and shorter than many American and Asian brands, with narrower shoulders and armholes. For customers used to a relaxed fit, it makes sense to order styles with more ease in the body or to add larger sizes to the range. For marketplaces, build your own size chart from actual garment measurements rather than a generic conversion table: it cuts returns. In the product listing, state the model's height and the size shown in the photo. For a first order with a new factory, buy a small batch or samples in several sizes and have them tried on by people with your typical customer's build.
Sizing: what to do before you order
- Ask which system the supplier's sizes follow: IT, FR or DE
- Request a finished garment measurement chart for every style
- Compare the measurements with your bestsellers
- For shoes, get the insole length for every size
- Check the smallest and largest sizes on samples
- Split sizes based on your own sales data
- Build your own size chart for your website or marketplace
Let us align the size chart with the factory
We request measurements from the factory, compare them with your styles, check samples in several sizes and monitor grading during production.