The Sock Joining Device (200) provides for an efficient way to place sock-pairs (150) into a joined state that is pleasing to the eye, that remain in this joined state and specifically takes into account socks (100) with a heel section (110). The Sock Joining Device (200) comprises a volume (300), a pole (400). The Sock Joining Device (200) may further comprise a means for holding upright the pole (500).

A polymer composition comprising a polymer and at least one active substance selected from the group consisting of a substance generating an occlusion, in particular a substance generating an internal occlusion or a substance generating an external occlusion; a moisturizing substance; a substance reducing pain or itching; and mixtures of these.

Selectively textured footbeds for athletic footwear are described. A footbed includes a rearfoot portion and a plurality of discrete raised areas extending from the rearfoot portion. The discrete raised areas are constructed and arranged to engage a rearfoot region of a plantar surface of a foot. The footbeds provide a sensory input to the plantar surface to allow a user to determine whether and/or how to adjust his or her gait.

A compression garment, having: (a) a first portion that wraps at least partially around a body part to provide compression to the body part; and (b) a second portion that wraps at least partially around a body part; wherein the second portion is wrapped onto the first portion or is attached to the first portion such that the attachment of the second portion onto the first portion changes the elastic profile of the garment from a first elastic profile to a second elastic profile; and wherein the dimensions of the first and second portions are selected such that the relative amount of the circumference of the body part that is covered by each of the first and second portions of the garment results in a garment applying a pre-determined range of compression level fluctuation to the body part during wear.

A compression garment, having: (a) a first portion that wraps at least partially around a body part to provide compression to the body part; and (b) a second portion that wraps at least partially around a body part; wherein the second portion is wrapped onto the first portion or is attached to the first portion such that the attachment of the second portion onto the first portion changes the elastic profile of the garment from a first elastic profile to a second elastic profile; and wherein the dimensions of the first and second portions are selected such that the relative amount of the circumference of the body part that is covered by each of the first and second portions of the garment results in a garment applying a pre-determined range of compression level fluctuation to the body part during wear.

Present aspects hereof are directed to a circular knitted apparel item, such as a sock, or a sleeve. The apparel item has at least a first segment with multiple knit courses, and a second segment having the same number of multiple knit courses as the first segment. The apparel item has an aperture separating the first segment and the second segment, where the aperture is occupied by a single strand of yarn extending from the first segment to the second segment. The first and second segments are formed by changing the circular knitting direction from one course to the next course in a reciprocating fashion, until the last course is formed, wherein the single strand of yarn moves from the last course in the current segment to the first course in a next, adjacent segment.

A garment with compression-generating sections includes: at least one body section including a portion that is tubular when the garment is worn; and at least one compression-generating section. The body section is stretchable so as to fit a wearer's body. The compression-generating section is disposed in such a manner that, when the garment is worn, it is located above a body region where skin sagging occurs and extends in a direction along Langer's lines. The compression-generating section has lower stretchability than the body section at least in an insertion direction in order to increase compression provided by a portion of the garment where the compression-generating section is disposed.

A footwear system for orthotic support comprising an insole region to which is affixed one or more detachable, repositionable receptacles that accommodate orthotic and/or foot support inserts, and optionally an additional heel receptacle. The footwear system may be usable to provide foot support in closed or open footwear.

A moisture-permeable and waterproof sock includes a sock body and a moisture-permeable and waterproof layer The sock body is made of an elastic and stretchable fabric material, and includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a receiving space, the outer surface being divided into an uncovered region that has an opening for insertion of the user's foot into said receiving space, and a covered region continuously extending from the uncovered region and away from the opening. The moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is only formed on the covered region of the outer surface for preventing water from entering into the sock body while allowing moisture to escape from the receiving space of the sock body.

A sock and/or outer footwear having one or more portions with reduced frictional characteristics. One or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion of the sock and/or interior of the outer footwear is fabricated with one or more fibers having the reduced frictional characteristics. The reduced frictional characteristics are established with the one or more low-friction fibers that are integrated with fibers having additional complementary characteristics of thermal regulation and moisture management. The provision of reduced frictional characteristics in one or more of the heel, arch and ball facilitates insertion of a foot into footwear.