COMPARISON OF ENGLISH AND CHINESE CLOTHING PATTERN SYSTEMS

The introduction of clothing pattern cutting systems represented a significant technological and economic breakthrough for the garment designer, as they noticeably reduced the amount of time and skill required to cut a fashionable garment offering an acceptable fit. Many different types of pattern system are currently in use across the world, each being appropriate for specific measurement systems, tailoring methods and for particular types of figure. These pattern-cutting systems have developed to accommodate cultural predilections and diverse preferences in respect of fashion silhouettes. Modern clothing pattern design work is increasingly performed using computer-based pattern-drafting systems. This commonly results in conformance with international designs, with its attendant loss of traditional design cues. An examination has been made of the distinctions between the shapes of clothes created using the English block pattern system and those that result from using the Chinese Proportion Assigned Cutting Method. The analysis shows that English patterns are more closely tailored to the body whilst Chinese patterns offer more freedom of movement. This knowledge should inform the clothing pattern designer, so that appropriate features may be incorporated into drafted patterns in order to facilitate the tailoring of clothing with apposite design characteristics.