One of the most frustrating parts of shopping—especially online—is figuring out your size.
UK 10, US 6, EU 38… or somewhere in between?
Sizing can feel like a guessing game. And for African women, it’s even more complicated: many size charts simply weren’t made with our bodies in mind.
As a designer and founder, this is something I think about every day.
And while we haven’t solved it yet, I do have a dream:
To help contribute to a Universal African Body Size Chart—a standard that reflects our real measurements, shapes, and stories.
Why Size Charts Exist (And Why They Fall Short)
Most sizing systems were developed based on historical studies of white women in Europe and America. UK sizing? Built on British body data. US sizing? Based on measurements taken in the 1940s.
They worked—for the body types they were built around.
But these systems were never meant to include African women.
And so today, we face:
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Dresses that almost fit—if you tailor them
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Size charts that feel like rough guesses
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Clothing that often asks us to adjust, rather than affirming our form
What’s Missing: A Shared Standard for African Bodies
There is no widely adopted African size chart.
Most African brands create their own sizing internally, based on years of trial, feedback, and customer conversations.
This creates an invisible but very real issue:
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A size 12 in one brand might feel like a 10—or a 14—elsewhere
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Women are left unsure, unconfident, or forced to settle
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Designers waste time re-collecting measurements for each order
We deserve better. Our bodies deserve better.
The Vision: What a Universal African Size Chart Could Do
I’m imagining a future where:
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A shopper in Nairobi can confidently buy from a brand in Accra
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African designers have a shared sizing foundation to build from
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Garments are made for our bodies—not despite them
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African women feel seen in the structure, not just the style
It would take time. Research. Collaboration. It would be a community effort—not just one brand’s mission. But I believe it’s possible.
What We’re Doing Right Now
At LAMIDE SADIPE, we’re taking small, intentional steps toward this bigger vision.
1. Collecting Fit Data
We ask questions. We listen. We document. Each time a woman tries on a dress, we learn something new—from how it hugs her waist to where it needs more ease.
2. Studying Global & Local Systems
We’ve analysed dozens of size charts—from the UK to the US to Lagos-based brands—to understand where the gaps are and how we can begin bridging them.
3. Sharing the Conversation
This blog post is part of that. The more we talk about it, the more likely we are to build something lasting—together.
Why It Matters
A good fit isn’t just about how a dress feels. It’s about how it makes you feel.
When a woman puts something on and it fits her just right, something shifts. She feels affirmed. She feels powerful. She feels like herself.
That’s the kind of design I want to create—and the kind of fashion future I want to be part of.
We’re Not There Yet — But We're On the Way
No, we haven’t created a universal African size chart. Not yet.
But we’re dreaming toward it. Working toward it. Listening, tweaking, learning.
And we’re inviting you to be part of it.
Every response brings us one step closer to fashion that honours who we are.
With love,
LS