Ready-to-Wear Iro and Buba: Sizing for Online Sale

To size ready-to-wear iro and buba for online sale, size the buba by bust, shoulder and hip, and size the iro by wrapper length and the hip it must wrap around. Then add a fit note for each piece, so buyers know how loose the buba sits and how the iro ties.

Iro and buba is forgiving compared with a fitted gown, which makes it a good style to sell in standard sizes. But "free size" leaves many buyers unsure, especially diaspora buyers ordering for a wedding back home. For the bigger picture on fit and try-on for African fashion, see our guide to virtual try-on for African fashion brands.

What makes iro and buba different to size?

Iro and buba is two separate pieces, often worn with a gele and sometimes an ipele over the shoulder. Each piece fits differently:

• The buba is a top, usually loose, with wide or fitted sleeves. Its fit depends on bust, shoulders and the hip where it ends.
• The iro is a wrapper tied at the waist. Its fit depends on its length (how far it falls) and its width (how far it wraps around).

Many modern ready-to-wear sets swap the tied iro for an elastic or zipped wrapper skirt. That changes sizing, so say which type you sell.

How should you size the buba?

Use body measurements, not garment widths. Then decide how much ease (extra room) your style has.

Measure these for each size:

1. Bust: the fullest part of the chest
2. Shoulder width: across the back, shoulder point to shoulder point
3. Hip: where the buba ends, if it falls at or below the hip
4. Sleeve length: from shoulder point to where the sleeve ends
5. Buba length: from the shoulder to the hem

Here is an example chart layout. Replace the numbers with your own pattern's measurements.

Size	Fits bust (in)	Fits hip (in)	Shoulder (in)	Buba length (in)
S	32–35	36–39	14	26
M	36–39	40–43	15	27
L	40–43	44–47	16	28
XL	44–47	48–51	17	29
2XL	48–51	52–55	18	30

Example chart only. Check and use your brand's own chart.

A loose buba can cover a wider range per size than a fitted one. That is why the ranges above are broad.

How should you size the iro?

For a traditional tied iro, the key numbers are fabric length and width.

• Length: the iro should fall to the ankle or just above it. Give the finished length and say "falls to the ankle on a wearer of about 5'5"" or similar, based on your own fitting.
• Width: the wrapper must go around the hips with enough overlap to tie securely. Say which hip size it wraps comfortably.

For an elastic or zipped wrapper skirt, size it like a skirt, by waist and hip, with a length for each size.

Wrapper type	What to list
Traditional tied iro	Finished length, width, hip range it wraps
Elastic wrapper skirt	Waist range (relaxed and stretched), hip, length
Zipped wrapper skirt	Waist, hip, length per size

How do you write fit notes for iro and buba?

Fit notes turn a chart into a decision. Keep them to one or two lines per piece:

• "Buba is relaxed. Choose your usual size, or size down for a closer fit."
• "Iro is a traditional tie wrapper and fits hips up to 52 inches."
• "Wrapper skirt has an elastic waist, and the length is 40 inches on all sizes."
• "Sleeves are wide and three-quarter length."

Show each piece on a model, with their height and size in the caption.

Should you sell sets or separate pieces?

Many buyers have a bust size and hip size that do not match one standard set. Selling separates helps.

• Sell as a set when the iro is a free-size tied wrapper. Only the buba needs a size choice.
• Sell separately when the bottom is a fitted wrapper skirt. Let buyers pick one size for the top and another for the bottom.

For group orders, separate size fields for each piece cut down on alterations. Our guide to collecting Aso-ebi group order sizes shows how to set that up.

How do you help diaspora buyers pick a size?

Diaspora buyers often think in UK or US dress sizes. Add those labels next to your own size names, but keep the measurements as the main guide.

You can also give buyers a size from a quick scan. Our guide to AI size recommendation for fashion stores explains how a body scan matches shoppers to your chart.

For other loose styles, such as bubu, see our guide on bubu gown sizing.

How can buyers see the outfit on themselves?

ZeDaq.ai adds virtual try-on to your store. The shopper uploads one photo and sees your real outfit on their body. A 30-second body scan (one photo plus height) suggests a size from your own chart, with one chart per garment type, such as tops for the buba and bottoms for a wrapper skirt.

You can try it yourself on the live demo before you set it up.

FAQs

Is iro and buba one size fits all?

Traditional tied iro can be close to free size, but the buba is not. Size the buba by bust, shoulder and hip, and say what hip size the iro wraps.

Should I sell the gele with the set?

Many brands sell it as an add-on, so buyers who already have one do not pay extra. Show it styled with the set in your photos either way.

How long should a ready-to-wear iro be?

Long enough to fall near the ankle on most wearers. List the finished length so buyers can compare it with their own height.

What if a buyer is a different size on top and bottom?

Sell the buba and wrapper skirt as separates, or allow two size choices on one set. That avoids sewing alterations later.