EU vs US sizing for yoga wear: how to get fit right

An “M” is not the same M in Xiamen and in Los Angeles. Production made to the wrong size system is the single most expensive mistake in a first order — and it is avoidable with three measurements and one clear spec sheet.

Why an Asian M is not a US M

Size labels are convention, not measurement. A Chinese M is typically built for a bust around 84–86 cm; a US M is built for roughly 89–92 cm. Put the same label on both and you create a size run that fits nobody.

Label	EU	US	UK	Bust (cm)	Waist (cm)	Hip (cm)
XS	34	2	6	78–82	60–64	86–90
S	36	4	8	82–86	64–68	90–94
M	38	6	10	86–90	68–72	94–98
L	40	8	12	90–94	72–76	98–102
XL	42	10	14	94–98	76–80	102–106
XXL	44	12	16	98–102	80–84	106–110

These ranges describe our EU blocks. If your market expects a different grading, the pattern is re-graded to your chart — that is a normal request, not a special favour.

The three measurements that decide fit

1. Bust — around the fullest point, arms down, tape level.
2. Waist — the natural crease, not where the waistband sits.
3. Hip — the widest point, usually 18–22 cm below the waist.

For leggings add two more: rise (crotch seam to waistband) and inseam. A 68 cm inseam suits a 165 cm body; a 71–73 cm inseam is a tall fit. Getting inseam wrong produces the “flooded” look that photographs badly and returns fast.

How to write a size spec a factory can make

Field	Example
Size system	US / EU / UK (pick one as the base)
Body measurements	Bust 86–90, waist 68–72, hip 94–98 (M)
Garment measurements	Waistband relaxed 66, stretched 96, hip 100
Rise / inseam	Rise 26 cm, inseam 68 cm (M)
Tolerances	±1 cm on body, ±0.5 cm on waistband
Fit intent	Compressive, high waist, squat-proof

Fit testing before bulk

Put the sample on at least three body shapes in your target size, not one. Ask each tester to squat, sit and walk for two minutes, then check four points: waistband roll-down, crotch drop, knee bagging, and show-through at full stretch.

Note the fixes as changes to the pattern — a 1 cm rise increase or a 2 cm waistband elastic upgrade — rather than “make it tighter”. Vague feedback produces a second sample round, which costs two weeks.

The grading question

If you plan to sell XS–XXL, ask for a graded set, not a scaled copy. Grading rules differ: waist rises more slowly than hip across sizes, and sleeves lengthen. A factory that “just enlarges” every point produces an XXL with a waistband too large for the body it is meant to fit.

See our full size and fabric guide or send your size chart with your enquiry and we will confirm the grading before sampling.