Abstract: The present invention provides a protective fabric or garment comprising an insulator base layer, a protective layer attached to a body side of the insulator base layer, and one or more protective components attached to selected areas of an outer side of the insulator base layer, wherein each protective component includes at least one protective component layer. Each protective may include fibers having a tensile strength of at least 3 GPa and a modulus of at least 70 GPa. In some embodiments, at least one protective layer is formed with a liquid crystal polymer fiber. In other embodiments, at least one protective layer is formed using a blend of two or more materials selected from the group consisting of, liquid crystal polymer, meta-aramid, para-aramid, nylon, olefin, s-glass, elastic, spandex, polyethylene, diamond tough nylon, polyphenylenebenzimidazole, polybenzoxazole, thermoset polyurethane synthetic polymer material, aromatic copolyamid, and extended-chain polyethylene.

Abstract: The present invention provides an impact-resistant suit having a base layer of material dimensioned to fit over a body of a wearer, and at least one impact-resistant panel attached to the base layer, the impact-resistant panel being sized and positioned with respect to the base layer to protect a specific part of the body of the wearer from localized impacts. In some embodiments, the impact-resistant suit comprises a super buoyant wetsuit having an upper body portion that substantially resists crush-down at extreme pressures.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wearable body armor suit, comprising a plurality of body armor components that are connected together by an impact-resistant material, wherein the impact-resistant material comprises Vectran™ or woven chain mail, and wherein the body armor components are formed of carbon fiber or liquid crystal polymer fiber that is woven or formed into a platen. The platen is molded or curved to accommodate the shape of a body part being covered by the body armor component, for localized and directed protection of strategically important body parts.