Let's talk about Chinese clothes sizes.
I realize this is a mostly-political blog and people don't expect to get shopping tips. But it's Easy Sunday and I have an up-close observation.
I should have known better.
About ten years ago I ran in the Hong Kong marathon. It was 26.2 miles up and over bridges and freeways with extraordinary views of the city. The day before the run I realized I had underestimated the heat and humidity, so I went to a big-box-type athletic-wear store in Hong Kong. Imagine a superstore the size of a Best Buy. I wanted to buy a singlet to replace the tee-shirt I had expected to run in. (A singlet is a tank top.) Open arm-pits would be more breathable.
I wear a size Large in America. Size Medium shirts are too snug, size Extra Large are blousy. Large fits. Nothing whatever fit me in the store. Literally nothing, from any brand, for a 180 pound American. Not Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Under Armor, or any of a dozen unfamiliar brands. Hong Kong "Extra Large" would fit American males weighing 150 pounds, tops. There was nothing larger than Extra Large.
Two weeks ago, back in America and on my computer, a pop-up ad showed me summer-weight yoga/beach-wear/lounge-about pants. They were so cheap I could not resist, $12, but only if I hurried and bought while the limited-time promotion clock ticked down the time. I hated the fake urgency, but marketers do that because it motivates buyers. The pants were SO cheap, so I hurried.
I bought a size up -- Extra Large -- to be sure they would be roomy. They arrived yesterday. They would be large enough for a ten-year-old American boy. I went back and looked at the size chart, now without time pressure. Extra Large is supposedly for men who weigh 132 pounds, and I think it would be snug on them. Extra Large equals 132 pounds. Wow. About 4% of American men weigh 132 pounds or less.
The photo makes it look like the waist expands, but it barely does. Apparently Chinese men don't have either stomachs or butts.
None of this is of any great consequence. The pants cost me only $12. My wife has co-workers with elementary school children. It is cheap tuition for me for lessons on shopping on-line, on Chinese size labels, and on the girth of American men, including me.
I don't take Chinese clothes-sizing as an insult about my weight. I take it as a health warning
Marcy, please flesh this out into a guest post. Make your case. Send it to me at my email address. Peterwsage@gmail.com.
To answer your question, I bought the pants thinking they would serve a purpose with thrift and without unnecessary fashion fuss. You may disagree, but I thought it was the non commercial, no-waste, responsible thing to do. Please explain why I was wrong.
Peter Sage
Why would you buy a pair of pants that cost less than a sandwich and a cup of coffee? Fast fashion is one of the big issues with environmental pollution, please keep this conversation going by digging deeper. This is not about marketing, nor about sizing...please...more about becoming aware of this issue and NOT supporting the purchase of $12. pants - what were you thinking? Deserves a mea culpa from you...