Quick answer: Wholesale lingerie size range planning means deciding which sizes a collection will offer, what measurements define each size, how each silhouette will be checked, and which details still need supplier confirmation. A clear size plan helps buyers brief suppliers consistently and review samples against the same reference.
The right range depends on the customer, sales channel, garment construction and information available to the buying team. This checklist is a planning tool; it is not a universal size chart or a substitute for fit testing.
1. Start with the customer and channel
Describe who the collection is intended for and where it will be sold. An online brand may need a different size presentation from a boutique or a wholesale distributor. Write down the markets and channels you are considering, then identify which assumptions still need validation.
- Who is the intended customer?
- Is the priority everyday wear, occasion styling, gifting or fashion-led discovery?
- Which sales channels will display the size information?
- What coverage, support and stretch expectations should the product brief explain?
Do not select sizes only because a competitor uses them. Use customer research, existing sales data and fit feedback where available, while clearly marking what is not yet confirmed.
2. Separate body measurements from garment measurements
A body measurement chart describes the person the size is intended to fit. Finished garment measurements describe the product itself. They answer different questions and should not be mixed into one unexplained table.
| Information | Examples | Use in the brief |
|---|---|---|
| Body measurements | Bust, waist, hip and height where relevant | Defines the intended wearer range |
| Garment measurements | Finished length, rise, band and opening | Helps review construction and proportion |
| Fit notes | Close fit, flexible fit, coverage or support preference | Explains how the product should feel and sit |
| Allowance and stretch | Stretch direction, recovery and construction limits | Prevents a size label from carrying too much meaning |
When you prepare a lingerie sourcing brief, label the source and revision date of every chart. A chart without a date or reference version is harder to compare during development.
3. Map the range by silhouette
One size approach may not work equally well for a bralette, bodysuit, garter piece and brief. Connected garments may require attention to torso length, while separate pieces can require different upper-body and lower-body checks.
- List the key measurement points for each silhouette.
- Identify where the garment is expected to stretch and recover.
- Mark closure, strap, band and leg-opening adjustments.
- Record which sizes need priority review in the first sample round.
Keep this information linked to your line plan. A clear collection planning reference helps the buyer see whether every proposed size serves a distinct product role.
4. Decide how grading will be reviewed
Grading is the process of adjusting measurements between sizes. Buyers do not need to invent technical grading rules without the right expertise, but they should define what needs to be checked and documented.
Ask the supplier to explain the base size, measurement points, grading reference and any areas that remain unchanged. For each sample, record actual measurements, fit comments and the specification version. Separate a change requested by the buyer from a change recommended during development.
5. Check material behavior before finalizing sizes
Fabric, elastic, lace and mesh influence how a garment fits and recovers. A size range should therefore be reviewed with the intended material direction, not only with a flat sketch. If the material changes, the fit discussion may need to be revisited.
Document the desired hand feel, stretch direction, opacity and recovery. If the material is not confirmed, write that clearly in the inquiry. Avoid presenting a size chart as final while fabric and construction are still open.
6. Prepare a sample review scorecard
Use the same questions for every size and silhouette. This makes comments easier to compare and reduces vague feedback such as “make it bigger.”
- Does the garment match the intended body measurement range?
- Are the main seams, bands and closures positioned correctly?
- Is the length and rise appropriate for the silhouette?
- Does the fabric stretch and recover as expected?
- Are coverage and support consistent with the product brief?
- What exact measurement or construction change is requested?
Keep dated photos, measurement notes and supplier replies together. This record becomes useful when a second sample or another color is reviewed.
7. Ask clear questions before a quotation
A supplier inquiry should identify the style, target size range, base size, measurement reference, material direction and open questions. If quantities are not confirmed, say so. If a sample is being reviewed, identify the sample version.
Hello, we are preparing the size range for [style references]. Please review the attached body measurement and finished garment references. Our proposed sizes are [sizes], with [base size] as the first review size. Please confirm the measurement points, grading approach, stretch and recovery considerations, sample requirements and any information you need before quotation. Open questions are [questions].
When discussing OEM or private-label development, ask how measurement changes will be recorded between sample rounds.
Frequently asked questions
Should every style use the same size range?
Not automatically. The decision depends on the construction, intended customer and fit information available. Explain the reason for any difference between silhouettes.
Is a size label enough for a wholesale buyer?
No. Buyers should also review measurement references, construction, stretch and coverage. The label is a useful shorthand, not the complete product specification.
When should the size range be finalized?
Finalize it when the customer, construction and material direction are sufficiently clear for a meaningful sample review. Keep open items visible until they are confirmed.
Build a more useful size brief
Start with the customer, map each silhouette, separate body and garment measurements, and document every revision. Send your size-range brief to My Lingerie Factory with the information you have confirmed and the questions that still need review.