Abstract: A bra cup for a bra includes an inner layer of material configured to face a wearer's breast when the bra is worn and an outer layer of material configured to face away from the wearer when the bra is worn. An outer face of the inner layer of material is adjacent an inner face of the outer layer of material. A thin polymer web is disposed on the outer face of the inner layer of material. A bra including the bra cup and a method of manufacturing the bra cup are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides an easy settable stretch fabric comprising three types of yarns: a rigid fiber, an elastic fiber, and a low-melt fiber, wherein the low-melt fiber comprises low-melt polymer which can be fused in the temperature between 60° C. to 200° C., being higher than the temperature used for normal textile process and household laundry, but lower than the temperature used for heat setting elastic fiber. The low-melt fiber can be selected from a group of fibers made from modified polyester, nylon, and polypropylene and the copolymer from them in the form of staple or filament.

Abstract: A kit for use in creating customized swimwear is provided including an outer layer formed of a water repellent draw-on fabric, an inner layer formed from a water repellent fabric, and a plurality of fabric markets of different colors.

Abstract: A bra cup for a bra includes an inner layer of material configured to face a wearer's breast when the bra is worn and an outer layer of material configured to face away from the wearer when the bra is worn. An outer face of the inner layer of material is adjacent an inner face of the outer layer of material. A thin polymer web is disposed on the outer face of the inner layer of material. A bra including the bra cup and a method of manufacturing the bra cup are also disclosed.

Abstract: A footwear customization kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes one or more customizable portions that can be deformed when heated, including an upper and a customizable insert. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear and the customizable portions in a steam environment. The customizable portions can be modified by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and can permanently retain the shape upon cooling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a knitted bra (10), comprising at least a first knitted cup (12a) and a second knitted cup (12b) which are transversely aligned and each have an overall hemispheric shape, each cup (12a, 12b) comprising a first elastically extensible knitted peripheral portion for supporting the chest, a stiffener (20) portion which extends at least partially under each cup (12a, 12b), and a strap (14) for attaching the back of the bra (10), characterized in that the stiffener (20) forms an underwiring strip which at least partially surrounds the first peripheral supporting portion (30a, 30b) of each cup (12a, 12b), and in that the stiffener (20) is knitted in a first type of stitch designed for replacing an added underwiring.

Abstract: The present invention contemplates a garment comprising a band to be worn around a woman's torso, such as underneath a traditional garment top. The band comprises a stretchable compressive material having a generally cylindrical shape and one or more ribbing sections. The band may encircle the user's torso to cover at least a part of a protruding belly portion or skin and at least a portion of the user's back. The one or more ribbing sections may be worn underneath the protruding belly portion, providing support. The garment may serve to protect traditional garment tops, confine specialty skin products to the user's torso, or act as an extension of a traditional garment top to avoid exposure of skin.

Abstract: A method of forming a textile element (10) for use as a structural support component in a garment. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing a fabric strip (12) having a plush surface (16); (ii) applying a thermoplastic coating (14) to the plush surface (16) of the fabric strip (12) so that the thermoplastic coating (14) penetrates the plush surface (16); and (iii) allowing the thermoplastic coating (14) to cool and rigidify so as to embed at least surface yarns of the plush surface (16) in the thermoplastic coating (14) and thereby form a composite structure at the juncture (J) between the thermoplastic coating (14) and the plush surface (16).

Abstract: Disclosed herein are flocked shapewear garments. The flocked shapewear garments comprise a fabric, an elastomeric coating, and flocking fibers embedded in the elastomeric coating.

Abstract: A shapewear garment made from a double face fabric having an inner face that comprises a cotton layer that does not have a gusset in the crotch portion of the garment. A shapewear garment having adjustable bodice cups having draw strings that gather the bodice cups along a vertically-extending seam in the garment. The fabric of the bodice cups has a folded upper edge defining a neckline without a seam. A shaperwear garment or other garment made using a high tension, flexible thin seam for seaming two adjacent stretchable fabrics along abutting edges, and having an adhesive film bonded across the abutting edges and a pattern of stitching through the adhesive film and the adjacent, abutted stretchable fabrics.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are posterior-lifting garments for supporting a buttocks of a wearer, the posterior-lifting garments comprising a pant garment comprising a lift attachment positioned at an upper portion of the pant garment above the buttocks of the wearer; and a posterior-lifting article having a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the posterior-lifting article is attached to a lower portion of the pant garment; and wherein the second end of the posterior-lifting article is configured to attach to the lift attachment and to provide traction pulling the lower portion of the pant garment toward the upper portion of the pant garment so as to more closely conform the pant garment to the buttocks and provide support for the buttocks. Methods of assembling the posterior-lifting garments are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are abdominal-restraint garments comprising an outer garment layer and an inner abdominal-restraint layer. The inner abdominal-restraint layer can be attached to the outer garment layer. In some embodiments, a front bottom and/or back bottom of the inner abdominal-restraint layer are attached to an inner side of the outer garment layer. The front top of the inner abdominal-restraint layer can be configured to be even with the front rise of the outer garment layer or extend above the front rise of the outer garment layer. The inner abdominal-restraint layer can be configured to extend across a garment-wearer's abdominal region. In some embodiments, the abdominal-restraint garment is a pair of pants, jeans, a pair of shorts, a skirt, leggings, or tights. Also disclosed herein are methods of assembling the abdominal-restraint garments disclosed herein.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are abdominal-restraint garments comprising an outer garment layer and an inner abdominal-restraint layer. The inner abdominal-restraint layer can be attached to the outer garment layer. In some embodiments, a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of the inner abdominal-restraint layer are attached to an inner side of the outer garment layer. The top of the inner abdominal-restraint layer can be configured to be even with the front rise of the outer garment layer or extend above the front rise of the outer garment layer. The inner abdominal-restraint layer can be configured to extend across a garment-wearer's abdominal region. In some embodiments, the abdominal-restraint garment is a pair of pants, jeans, a pair of shorts, a skirt, leggings, or tights. Also disclosed herein are methods of assembling the abdominal-restraint garments disclosed herein.

Abstract: A garment that includes a first shape control material layer and a second shape control material layer fused to the first shape control layer. The first shape control material layer has a first degree of stretch and is shaped in a basic garment shape. The second shape control material layer has a second degree of stretch and is shaped to correspond to a portion of a wearer's body that is less than that covered by the first shape control material layer.

Abstract: A system for garment fitting and fabrication includes a fabric template and fabric pieces attachable to the template to form the garment. A method for garment fitting and fabrication includes draping pre-fabricated modular fabric pieces on a wearer.

Abstract: An article of apparel designed to be worn over an individual's pants, shirt, skirt, under various articles of clothing or instead of various articles of clothing. The article of clothing would extend between an individual's chest to the individual's hips, slightly below the individual's hips or around the individual's buttocks, at the same time encompassing the individual's midriff. Various accessories can be utilized with this article of clothing. The circumference of a top opening of the article of clothing is less than the circumference of the bottom opening of the article of clothing. Alternatively, the circumference of the top opening could be greater than the circumference of the bottom opening or both circumferences could be equal in size. The circumference of the article of clothing could gradually increase from the first opening of the article of clothing until it reaches the bottom opening of the article of clothing.

Abstract: A garment with a crotch part according to the present invention is a garment with a crotch pat formed at least by a front body (2) which covers an abdominal, a back body (3) which covers a buttock, and a crotch section (5), wherein an opening (9) is formed at the crotch section (5), and the opening (9) is blocked by joining a godet cloth (12) through heat welding or adhesive. According to such a configuration, the garment with the crotch part according to the present invention is comfortable to wear with the wearing pressure when worn controlled, is able to shape a beautiful lower body, is relatively easy to produce and suited for mass production, and is also inexpensively supplied.

Abstract: A brassiere for extending around a wearer's torso and supporting the wearer's breasts. The brassiere includes a torso strap supporting a pair of breast cups which in turn support the wearer's breasts. The breast cups are constructed of a two-ply fabric, preferably a circularly knit fabric, and each of the breast cups has a fold line positioned along at least a portion of its top edge so as to improve wearer comfort and reduce seams visible through clothing. Also, an underwire may be attached to an exterior side of one of the plies of the two-ply material of each of the breast cups to provide extra support. Optionally, the fold may be knit to have a thinner material than the remaining plies to facilitate formation of a smooth folded upper edge of the breast cup with a finished appearance.

Abstract: A brassiere fashioned from a circularly knit fabric blank has a central panel between the breast cups that has a greater resistance to stretching than the remainder of the body of the brassiere. The brassiere preferably is formed from a blank that is knit to have two pairs of breast cups that are arranged in mirror image about a fold region at which the blank is folded to place one set of breast cups in overlying relationship with the other set of breast cups such that the resulting brassiere is a two-ply structure. The brassiere can be formed in either non-underwire or underwire form. When included, the underwires are attached either to an exterior side of one of the plies, or alternatively between the plies. The blank can be circularly knit as a two-ply tubular structure similar to a long turned welt.

Abstract: A fabric laminate (10) comprises first and second stretch fabrics (11 and 12) having an intermediate adhesive securement layer (13) between them. The adhesive securement layer (13) is in the form of a regularly repeated pattern which comprises an array of aligned adhesive elements (14) arranged in successive generally horizontally and vertically extending rows. The array of adhesive elements (14) is capable of offering resistance to elongation as the laminate (10) is subjected to distortion, with the pattern having a differential elongation characterized as offering different magnitudes of resistance to elongation when the fabric laminate (10) is subjected to distortion in selected different directions.

Abstract: A garment having provided with an inner lining for adjusting body shape of the buttocks and the abdomen. The garment is formed by combining woven fabrics together, each of which has a modulus of expansibility depending on a stretch direction from the weaving direction of the fabric. The buttocks regulating piece is oriented in a direction that the direction of the high modulus of expansibility of the fabric is selected to gather and push up the buttocks and is sewed between the front body and the back body, while an abdominal regulating piece is formed of at least two sheets, each oriented so that the direction of the low modulus of expansibility of the fabric is in the lateral direction to the abdomen. The sheets are sewed onto the front body so as to at leastartially overlap each other within the abdominal region including the lower abdominal region.

Abstract: This invention discloses a circularly knit brassiere having integrally knit-in support panels and cup fullness. The brassiere is knit on a circular knitting machine, and the support panels have a modified knit structure to provide them with a greater resistance to stretching, particularly in the coursewise direction. The support panels are separated by differentially-shaped breast cups, which can be formed by way of the feeding-in of an additional yarn or yarns to form additional courses in the cup area, or through the provision of a gathered center panel. The entire brassiere is produced in the form of a tubular blank, and portions are cut and removed to define shoulder straps and a neck opening. The straps are seamed together to form a completed brassiere having only a minimal number of seams, and banding or the like may be provided on the arm and neck openings.

Abstract: A fabric laminate is disclosed which is formed of stretch fabrics laminated together by an integrally formed adhesive web having differential stretch characteristics. One or both of the stretch fabrics may include elastomeric yarn. The adhesive web is placed within the laminate with its primary elongation direction being in a predetermined direction, in conjunction with the orientation of the primary elongation directions of the fabrics, such that the resultant elongation characteristics of the laminate is combinedly determined by the fabrics and the web as well as the predetermined orientation of their primary elongation directions. The laminate may be used for forming the control panel of women's undergarments, such as the stomach, thigh or rear control support of a panty, or the undercup or side support of a brassiere. The adhesive web which unites the two fabrics forming the laminate is a open net-like film of heat sensitive adhesive which may be formed of a polyamide material.

Abstract: A support stay for use with an article to be worn by a person has two durometers of hardness. The support stay includes a base member having a first hardness, the first hardness sufficient to provide a required rigidity for support. A gripping member is operatively connected to the base member and has attachment areas which extend beyond the ends of the base member. The gripping member has a second hardness which is softer than the first hardness. The gripping member, when attached to the inner surface of the article by attachment areas, provides a non-slip surface against the person wearing the article to keep the article in position.

Abstract: The present invention entails a panty having a crotch area that is specifically designed to kill and inhibit the growth of yeast, bacteria and fungi. In particular, the panty includes a crotch made up of an open knit construction that is formed of both treated and non-treated yarn. The treated yarn is treated with an antimicrobial agent that is capable of killing and inhibiting yeast.

Abstract: In general, bikini bottoms or briefs are somewhat unimaginative in terms of shape, uncomfortable and expensive to produce. A relatively simple frame for use in bikini bottoms or briefs includes two lengths of wire which are bent to define mirror images of each other, the lengths defining a major portion of an oval of sufficient length to extend around the crotch of a wearer between a V-shaped line across the rectus abdominous muscle in the front and the sacrum in the rear of the wearer. Each of the lengths of wire includes a straight, vertical rear portion extending downwardly from an inverted L-shaped top rear end to approximately the bottom center of the crotch area, and a front portion flaring outwardly and upwardly from the vertical plane of the straight rear portion to a top end and then downwardly to the vertical plane of the rear portion.

Abstract: A panties is described which includes a shell-form body having a back panel and a generally "T" shaped front panel. The back panel is adapted to substantially cover a ladies buttocks and has a top, a bottom, a first side and a second side. The generally "T" shaped front panel has a front crotch strip and a generally hourglass shaped waist band. The front crotch strip is secured to the bottom of the back panel and is adapted to extend to a top of a pubic bone. The generally hourglass shaped front waist band has a first end secured to the first side of the back panel and a second end secured to the second side of the back panel. The waist band has a symmetrical centre point to which is attached the crotch strip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a female garment with an infolding or cleft at the surface level of the labia majora to subtly define the contours of the external female genitalia. The linear infolding is in the sagittal plane of the body and has a first material which represents the outer cloth surface of the female garment and a second, firmer material which is attached to the inner surface of the first material so that the subtle contours of the external female genitalia are maintained throughout the infolding. Alternatively, the features of the external female genitalia in situ may be represented in a variety of female garments by utilizing first and second layers where the first layer constitutes material of the female garment and the second layer constitutes material of a different color or texture from that of the first material.

Abstract: A brassiere fashioned from a circularly knit fabric blank has a central panel between the breast cups that has a greater resistance to stretching than the remainder of the body of the brassiere. The brassiere preferably is formed from a blank that is knit to have two pairs of breast cups that are arranged in mirror image about a fold region at which the blank is folded to place one set of breast cups in overlying relationship with the other set of breast cups such that the resulting brassiere is a two-ply structure. The brassiere can be formed in either non-underwire or underwire form. When included, the underwires are attached either to an exterior side of one of the plies, or alternatively between the plies. The blank can be circularly knit as a two-ply tubular structure similar to a long turned welt.