Take it with a grain of salt.
The study mentioned by the news independent (your link: http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/this_britain/article328328.ece)
is quoting Janice Wang, someone who has a vested interest in the TC2 (North Carolina State Univ) SizeUSA study (http://tc2.com/what/sizeusa/index.html). While I'd be the last person to suggest that apparel manufacturers are not in need of better fitting garments, I'd strongly disagree that "The majority of retailers are designing clothes for people with an hourglass figure." I'm a pattern maker, I'd know! Rather, I see this article you cite as a further PR push by TC2 for manufacturers to buy their data set to the tune of $20,000!!!!! (see http://tc2.com/what/sizeusa/mfg_brands.html#The%20Final%20Report) Yes! $20,000 bucks! I guess if you're charging $20,000 for a data set -paid for btw in large part by taxpayer dollars in the form of direct grants and tax write-offs for corporate study donors- you can afford to hire the best PR firm to get the message out. Btw, I also write a great deal about fit and sizing on my blog. Keep up the good work; most people are all too happy to fall in line with popular myth, I'm glad to see you weren't easily persuaded.
If you keep your eyes on the runway and your nose in fashion mags, you might imagine that all clothes are made for 
Quote of the Day
Posted by: Kathleen Fasanella at November 23, 2005 2:58 PM