ISO 18825-1:2016

Overview

ISO 18825-1:2016 - Clothing - Digital fittings - Part 1: Vocabulary and terminology used for the virtual human body - defines the standardized vocabulary for representing the virtual human body inside virtual garment systems. The standard establishes consistent terms and definitions for digital fittings used across the apparel value chain (design, manufacture, ordering, sales, distribution and customer management), and supports reliable online/in-store visualization of size, shape, fit and design.

Key topics and technical elements

ISO 18825-1 focuses on terminology and conceptual building blocks rather than prescriptive measurement methods. Major technical topics include:

• Virtual human model - three‑dimensional digital models used for fittings.
• Parametric human body - changeable models driven by parameters (size, shape, BMI) derived from exemplar models or databases.
• Virtual clone (virtual shape) - a 3D-scanned model identical to a specific user (morphology source: 3D scanned point cloud).
• Virtual twin (virtual size) - a morphed, parametric model approximating a user using body measurements and library models.
• Virtual body segments and regions - head, torso, arms, hands, legs, feet and their subdivisions.
• Virtual cross section - closed contours from planes cutting body segments.
• Virtual body dimensions - size information corresponding to anthropometric measures (note: virtual standing position specified: Frankfurt plane for head; feet parallel and 200 mm apart; arms abducted 20°; elbows straight; palms toward torso).
• Virtual body landmarks - characteristic points (e.g., top head point, shoulder point) for shape definition and fit evaluation.
• Virtual skeletal structure - simplified bones and joints (based on H-Anim concepts) enabling poses and motion.
• Virtual body texture, pose, motion and virtual flesh - surface appearance, static poses, animated motions, and soft‑tissue representations important for realistic fit simulation.
• Informative annexes: examples of parametric body types and notation of virtual human body information (meta, geometry, functional data).

Practical applications and users

ISO 18825-1 is intended for stakeholders who develop, deploy or depend on digital fitting systems:

• Apparel designers and product developers - consistent terminology for virtual prototypes and fit reviews.
• 3D/AR/VR developers and software vendors - standardized attributes for avatars, virtual twins and parametric bodies.
• Manufacturers and pattern technologists - improved communication of virtual body dimensions and landmarks.
• E‑commerce and retail teams - clearer online sizing information to reduce returns and improve conversion.
• Fit specialists, size‑systems committees and researchers - shared definitions to support interoperability and data exchange.
• Customer management and mass‑customization services - standardized metadata for storing body and preference data.

Related standards

ISO 18825-1 references and complements other standards, including:

• ISO 18825-2 (attributes of the virtual human body)
• ISO 20685 (3D scanning and point cloud)
• ISO 8559 (anthropometric dimensions)
• ISO/IEC 19774 (H-Anim)
• ISO 18163 and ISO 18831 (garment–body interaction/fit simulation)
• ISO 15535 (population metadata)

Using ISO 18825-1 helps organizations adopt a common vocabulary for digital fittings, enabling better interoperability, clearer online sizing communication and more accurate virtual garment evaluation.