Custom garment categories provide complete control over measurement configuration, allowing you to create specialized quizzes for unique clothing types that don’t fit standard Top, Bottom, or Both categories.

Understanding Garment Categories

Standard Categories vs Custom

Standard Categories (Automatic Configuration)

SmartSize AI Fit Recommender provides three preset categories with automatic measurement configuration:

TOP Category

  • ✅ Chest - Always enabled
  • ✅ Waist - Always enabled
  • ❌ Hip - Automatically disabled
  • Strictness - All measurements set to “Flexible”

BOTTOM Category

  • ❌ Chest - Automatically disabled
  • ✅ Waist - Always enabled
  • ✅ Hip - Always enabled
  • Strictness - All measurements set to “Flexible”

BOTH Category

  • ✅ Chest - Always enabled
  • ✅ Waist - Always enabled
  • ✅ Hip - Always enabled
  • Strictness - All measurements set to “Flexible”

CUSTOM Category (Manual Configuration)

When you select “Custom” as the garment category:

  • Full Control - Enable/disable any combination of measurements
  • Custom Strictness - Set individual strictness levels per measurement
  • No Restrictions - Create configurations not possible with standard categories
  • Advanced Matching - Fine-tune recommendation algorithms

When to Use Custom Categories

Specialized Garment Types

Outerwear and Jackets

Scenario: Winter coats need looser chest fit but precise waist control

  • Chest: In Range or Bigger (allows layering)
  • Waist: Must Be Inside Range (proper fit)
  • Hip: Flexible (comfort movement)

Athletic Wear

Scenario: Performance clothing with specific fit requirements

  • Chest: Must Be Inside Range (compression fit)
  • Waist: In Range or Smaller (snug support)
  • Hip: Flexible (movement freedom)

Formal Wear

Scenario: Tailored suits requiring precise measurements

  • Chest: Must Be Inside Range (professional fit)
  • Waist: Must Be Inside Range (tailored appearance)
  • Hip: Must Be Inside Range (complete silhouette)

Accessories and Specialized Items

Scenario: Items that don’t follow clothing measurement patterns

  • Single Measurement Focus - Enable only the most relevant measurement
  • Unique Combinations - Create measurement sets specific to your products
  • Non-Standard Sizing - Handle products with unique sizing requirements

Configuring Custom Categories

Accessing Custom Settings

  1. Select Custom Category - Choose “Custom” in garment category selector
  2. Strictness Settings Appear - Additional configuration options become available
  3. Individual Control - Configure each measurement independently

Measurement Enablement

With custom categories, you have complete control:

Enable Any Combination

  • Chest Only - For tops that don’t require waist/hip measurements
  • Waist Only - For belts, waistbands, or waist-focused items
  • Hip Only - For lower garments where only hip matters
  • Chest + Hip - Skip waist for certain garment types
  • Any Two Measurements - Enable exactly what you need
  • All Three Measurements - Full body measurement with custom strictness

Measurement Requirements

At Least One Required - You must enable at least one measurement type for the quiz to function

Strategic Selection - Choose measurements that most impact fit for your specific garments

Strictness Configuration

Each enabled measurement can have its own strictness level:

Flexible (Default)

  • Use Case - General recommendations with algorithm optimization
  • Behavior - Allows slight variations for better overall fit
  • Best For - Most clothing types, casual wear, comfort-focused items

Must Be Inside Range

  • Use Case - Precise fit requirements
  • Behavior - Customer measurements must fall within size range exactly
  • Best For - Tailored clothing, formal wear, fitted garments

In Range or Bigger

  • Use Case - Garments that should not be too tight
  • Behavior - Allows customer measurements at or above size range
  • Best For - Outerwear, layering pieces, loose-fit styles

In Range or Smaller

  • Use Case - Garments that should not be too loose
  • Behavior - Allows customer measurements at or below size range
  • Best For - Compression wear, athletic clothing, fitted undergarments

Advanced Configuration Strategies

Mixed Strictness Approaches

Comfort + Precision Strategy 

  Chest: Flexible (comfort priority)
Waist: Must Be Inside Range (fit precision)
Hip: In Range or Bigger (movement freedom)

Performance Wear Strategy 

  Chest: Must Be Inside Range (compression fit)
Waist: In Range or Smaller (support)
Hip: Flexible (movement optimization)

Layering Strategy 

  Chest: In Range or Bigger (layering space)
Waist: Flexible (comfort)
Hip: In Range or Bigger (outer layer accommodation)

Single-Measurement Focus

When to Use Single Measurements

  • Belts - Waist measurement only
  • Chest Protectors - Chest measurement only
  • Hip Accessories - Hip measurement only
  • Specialized Gear - Focus on the critical dimension

Benefits of Single-Measurement Quizzes

  • Simplified Customer Experience - Fewer measurements required
  • Faster Recommendations - Quicker processing
  • Focused Accuracy - Optimization for the critical measurement
  • Reduced Complexity - Easier size table management

Best Practices for Custom Categories

Planning Custom Configurations

Analyze Your Products

  1. Identify Fit Priorities - Which measurements matter most?
  2. Consider Customer Needs - How do customers expect the item to fit?
  3. Review Return Patterns - What fit issues do customers report?
  4. Test Configurations - Validate settings with known customer data

Document Your Approach

  • Configuration Logic - Record why you chose specific settings
  • Product Mapping - Note which products use which configurations
  • Update History - Track changes and their effectiveness
  • Team Communication - Share configuration rationale with team

Testing and Validation

Gradual Implementation

  1. Start Simple - Begin with basic custom configurations
  2. Test with Draft Status - Validate before going live
  3. Monitor Performance - Track recommendation accuracy
  4. Iterate Based on Results - Refine settings based on customer feedback

Performance Monitoring

  • Customer Satisfaction - Monitor fit feedback
  • Return Rates - Track if custom settings reduce returns
  • Recommendation Speed - Ensure complex configurations don’t slow recommendations
  • Size Distribution - Verify recommendations cover your size range appropriately

Common Configuration Patterns

Pattern 1: Precision Fit

Use Case: High-end, tailored clothing

  All measurements: Must Be Inside Range
Reasoning: Premium customers expect perfect fit

Pattern 2: Comfort Priority

Use Case: Casual, everyday clothing

  All measurements: Flexible
Reasoning: Customer comfort and satisfaction priority

Pattern 3: Athletic Performance

Use Case: Sports and fitness wear

  Chest: Must Be Inside Range (compression/support)
Waist: In Range or Smaller (stability)
Hip: Flexible (movement)

Pattern 4: Layering System

Use Case: Outerwear and seasonal items

  Chest: In Range or Bigger (layering accommodation)
Waist: Flexible (comfort with layers)
Hip: In Range or Bigger (outerwear fit)

Troubleshooting Custom Categories

Common Issues

Too Restrictive Settings

Problem: No size recommendations generated Symptoms: Customers frequently get “no size found” results Solution: Relax strictness settings or enable additional measurements

Conflicting Requirements

Problem: Strictness settings work against each other Symptoms: Inconsistent recommendations, customer confusion Solution: Review and align strictness levels with product characteristics

Measurement Relevance

Problem: Enabled measurements don’t impact fit for the product Symptoms: Irrelevant measurement requirements, customer frustration Solution: Disable measurements that don’t affect fit for your specific products

Optimization Tips

Start Conservative

  • Begin with Flexible - Start with flexible settings and tighten as needed
  • Enable Key Measurements - Focus on measurements that truly impact fit
  • Test Thoroughly - Validate with real customer data before going live

Monitor and Adjust

  • Track Performance - Monitor recommendation success rates
  • Customer Feedback - Listen to fit feedback and adjust accordingly
  • Seasonal Adjustments - Modify settings for seasonal fit preferences
  • Regular Review - Periodically review and optimize configurations

Custom garment categories provide the flexibility to create precise, specialized sizing solutions for unique products while maintaining the sophisticated recommendation algorithms that make SmartSize AI Fit Recommender powerful.