ISO 18831:2016

Overview

ISO 18831:2016 - Clothing - Digital fittings - Attributes of virtual garments specifies the attributes required to create accurate virtual garments (including virtual hats and virtual gloves) within virtual garment software and digital fitting systems. The standard defines consistent terminology and the structural elements of digital patterns, helping ensure reliable 3D apparel modeling, virtual try-on and e‑commerce fittings.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and item definitions
  • Clear definitions for virtual garment items: virtual jacket, shirt, blouse, T‑shirt, skirt, pants, hat, cap, beanie, gloves.
• Virtual pattern composition
  • Upper‑body patterns: front bodice, side bodice, back bodice, sleeve.
  • Lower‑body patterns: front, back, waist belt.
  • Hat patterns: crown and brim (digital patterns typically contain a single outside pattern).
  • Glove patterns: main pattern, thumb, finger gussets.
• Design detail attributes
  • Standardized digital representation for collars, cuffs, yokes, plackets, pockets, slits, overlaps and decorative elements (corsage, ribbon, tape, string).
  • Notes that digital patterns commonly express features with internal lines and without seam allowance or lining.
• Shape and fit elements
  • Virtual darts, pleats, tucks, ease, gathers and stretch - how these are modeled or expressed in digital patterns (for example, internal lines to indicate darts or pleats).
• Closures and fastening
  • Underlap/overlap closures, cinching behaviors and representation of hat fasteners (expressed via texture mapping rather than separate pattern pieces).
• Interoperability emphasis
  • Use of internal lines, texture mapping and pattern conventions to improve consistency across virtual garment software.

Applications

• Implementing virtual try‑on and digital fitting solutions for online retail to improve consumer confidence and reduce return rates.
• Guiding 3D apparel modeling, digital pattern making and simulation for designers, pattern engineers and manufacturers.
• Enabling consistent asset creation for virtual fashion, AR/VR wardrobe apps and size/fit evaluation tools.
• Supporting accurate representation of virtual hats and gloves in e‑commerce and visualization pipelines.

Who should use this standard

• Fashion designers and pattern makers converting physical patterns to digital formats
• E‑commerce and omnichannel retailers deploying virtual fitting rooms
• Virtual garment and 3D simulation software developers
• Apparel manufacturers and fit engineers focused on digital prototyping
• Standards bodies and researchers working on sizing, digital fittings and interoperability

Related standards

• ISO/WD 18163: Digital fittings - Vocabulary and terminology used for the virtual garment
• ISO/WD 18161: Digital fittings - Vocabulary and terminology used for the virtual human body
• ISO 4418: Size designation of clothes - Gloves

Keywords: ISO 18831:2016, digital fittings, virtual garments, virtual hat, virtual gloves, virtual garment software, virtual patterns, 3D apparel modeling, virtual try‑on.