Figure Types, Challenges of Making Garments and Implication for Nigerian Women and Garment Makers

The paper discusses common figure types, some of which constitute figure problems, for women with asymmetrical shapes. The relationship between figure types and garment construction was established indicating the styles of clothing to avoid and the styles to choose depending on one's figure. An attempt was also made to relate figure types to pattern designing. The major challenges of figure types to clothing construction relate to issues of appearance, balance and proportion and clothing fit. The paper concludes that Nigerians are faced with the challenges of non-existent basic patterns for garment construction for both men and women to facilitate needed modifications for disguising figure faults in individuals with abnormal body proportions. Recommendations were proffered to guide garment makers on how to disguise figure families.