Abstract: A garment for shaping a form of its wearer includes a front panel and a back panel coupled to one another at first and second seams. The front panel comprises self-lining material in each of a bottom portion and a pectoral portion and compression layer material in a torso portion of the front panel. The back panel includes a first arcuate portion of compression layer material along the first seam and a second arcuate portion of compression layer material along the second seam. Lining material extends from an upper portion of the back panel to a bottom portion of the back panel and is coupled to the two arcuate portions such that the two arcuate portions are separated by the lining material. The compression layer material has a higher elastic modulus than a respective elastic modulus of the lining material.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a hook and eye closure for garments such as brassieres. The eye tape and/or the hook tape is formed of laminated elastically elongatable layers, and can incorporate a cushioning layer to provide a comfortable and self-adjusting fit to garments. The lamination of the elastically elongatable layers allows manufacturing on existing equipment and helps provide smooth, soft edges, particularly when ultrasonically cut.

Abstract: A hook and eye fastener is provided in which either, or both of, the hook fastener fabric tape or the eye fastener fabric tape is made of a stretchable material. Preferably, the fabric tape can stretch primarily in a horizontal direction. The fabric tape may be single or multi-ply. In an alternative embodiment, the eye fastener fabric tape is a one piece, open knit construction. This open knit construction provides a number of eyes for a variety of adjustment possibilities with the corresponding hooks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a maternity undergarment having a brassiere and a rectangular abdominal support section. The above combination further includes a means to detachably connect the brassiere section to abdominal section, and the connecting means includes four adjustable strap members connected to and extending from the corners of the abdominal section and the bottom front and near edges of the brassiere section.