2002-10-01 Markus,
That was a very interesting response. It seems like Mr. Mellian is a supporter, but is fighting against the silent majority. Let me entertain you with a few thoughts and see how plausible they sound to you. Mr. Mellian feels that the ASTM can never force these standards on the industry that the industry must adopt them voluntarily. I am assuming he is referring strictly to the industry that is in the US alone. Suppose now, that ISO adopts the new clothing standards, and they do become "law" everywhere but the US. Now, to me that means that if the US industry wants to sell its products overseas, or outside the US, it will have to adopt those standards for the products it intends to export. Meaning higher costs to the US industry as it will have to label its way for the US market and the ISO way for everybody else. What will they gain by being different. Since standards are said to be voluntary that means they can be used by individual companies, even if the "industry" decides not to. In other words, clothing imported from non-US sources would still be allowed to use the ISO designation when selling in the US. Since they will have to use it every other market, why would they add cost to their product to label it the non-ISO way, since the ISO way will be acceptable in the US as its use is voluntary. The only reason I can see for the US makers wanting to stick to their tired old methods is there is an element of confusion in it. It is the confusion that business likes, as it generates more sales. Or it is perceived that it does. Is it possible that the so-called voluntary approach can back-fire on the American manufacturers if the foreign ones switch to the new system, even in the US market? It will be interesting if you do decide to write back to Mr. Mellian, to see what he thinks will happen to the US apparel manufacturers if the ISO becomes standard and required everywhere else, and they are the sole users of old standards? John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Markus Kuhn" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, 2002-10-01 15:16 Subject: [USMA:22404] Re: Metric clothing labels in the US? > Markus Kuhn wrote in [USMA:22337] on 2002-09-25 18:36 UTC: > > I just sent the following to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and some > > people on http://apparelandfootwear.org/4col.cfm?pageID=174 : > > > > Dear Mr. Mellian, > > > > I read with great interest on > > > > http://www.ansi.org/public/news/2002july/what_my_size.html > > > > a progress report about the -- in my eyes *very* needed and desireable > > -- standardization of clothing labels based on real body measurements. > > [...] > > I just got the attached reply. > > Markus > > -- > Markus G. Kuhn, Computer Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK > Email: mkuhn at acm.org, WWW: <http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~mgk25/> > > > Dear Mr. Kuhn, > > I read your questions and recommendations with a great smile on my face. > The reason for the "Smile" was not because what you suggested was funny, > because this has been my life long war, argument, and friendly or > unfriendly discussions with the apparel industry. However, here it is, my > private, unofficial responds to your question: > > ASTM standards provide body measurements tables in both units. > However, ASTM can not force for industry. these are voluntary standards. > > I wish I had a better answer this question. No I do not believe that > there is a chance that the apparel industry will use metric units in > labels, not only that I am even not sure that we will be able to convince > the apparel industry to use body measurements on labels. I might sound > very pessimistic, this is because I have been U.S. delegate to ISO > Technical Committee 133, and worked in development of Size Designation, > Pictogram and Labelogram to be used for clothing. Have been trying to > explain, how important these communication devices are for consumers for > years and so far there is not much for me to be happy about. However, I am > proud of my success in convincing the U.S. Navy to include body > measurements on labels of uniforms. I hope that these women will be > educated and demand the same information buying their civilian clothes. > > The European Union will be all set to use metric units by 2009. I > have no idea how many more decades will take for U.S. to adopt the > metrication. I am afraid industry will not make any changes, until U.S. > government decides to adopt metric units to replace the current one. This > is as difficult as changing driving rules in England. > > Thank you for your interest in a subject that I am very passionate about. > Cheers. Sirvart >
