We are frequently asked why Iron Heart sizing is different from some other (mainly western) brands.
Most importantly, there is no global standard for clothes sizes, there never has been and I suspect there never will be.
So for example, just because you have always been an M in Ralph Lauren, does not mean that you will be an M in Japanese or British, or indeed some other US brands.
Sizing varies between geographies because peoples size and shape varies between geographies. In The Netherlands, the average male height is a tad over 6 feet and weight is 194lbs, in the USA 5' 8" and 200lbs, and in Japan 5' 6" and 155lbs
The brand that most gets this geographical variance in body size, in my opinion, is Shimano Lifestyle Gear. Here is a sizing label from one of their garments, to me, this truly illustrates that they understand that clothes sizing is a variable based on geography....
Sizing varies with time. The average weight of a male in the US was 165 lbs in 1990 and in 2020 it is 185lbs.
The above are the reasons that:
1) We publish sizing tables per garment
2) We have links to videos showing how we measure, and thus how a customer can check sizing of something he/she has that fits well
3) We reach out to check whether a customer is sure of their sizing before we ship an order. Yeah, it's a pain for all concerned, but far better we try and get the customer something that fits, than have the disappointment, hassle and expense of returning something that does not fit
