The invention related to an insulating, double-knit fabric having a width and a length and comprising a first knit layer and a second knit layer coupled with the first knit layer forming a plurality of rows of lofted fibers separated by rows of air spaces. The air spaces extend along the length of the insulating, double-knit fabric for the entire length of the fabric and the lofted fibers extend in a direction having an orthogonal component with respect to the at least one of the first knit layer and the second knit layer.

A method of forming a substrate includes mapping a three dimensional spatial distribution of at least one structural protein fiber of extracellular matrix of biological material of interest, designing a fiber assembly pattern based on an intrinsic pattern of the at least one structural protein fiber of the extracellular matrix of the biological material, and assembling fibers based on the fiber assembly pattern to form the substrate.

A nonwoven fabric comprises a first surface, a second surface, and a visually discernible pattern on at least one of the first and second surfaces. The visually discernible pattern has a regular, repeating pattern of three-dimensional features. Each of the three-dimensional features define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions having a difference in values for an intensive property. The first surface has a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms. The second surface has a TS7 value in the range of about 1 dB V.sup.2 rms to about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms. A ratio of the TS7 value of the first surface to the TS7 value of the second surface is in the range of about 1 to about 3.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a denticle array. The denticle array includes a substrate and a plurality of denticles coupled to the substrate. Each denticle of the plurality of denticles includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion includes an upper body. The lower portion includes a lower body. The upper body includes a first prong extending from a front end of the denticle to a rear end of the denticle, a second prong extending from the front end of the denticle to a rear end of the denticle, and a third prong extending from the front end of the denticle to a rear end of the denticle. A first ridge separates the first prong and second prong. A second ridge separates the first prong from the third prong. The first prong has a length greater than the second prong and the third prong.

An insulating, double-knit fabric containing a first knit layer and a second knit layer coupled with the first knit layer through a plurality of first direction spaced apart rows in a first direction and a plurality of second direction spaced apart rows in a second direction which is perpendicular to the first direction forming a plurality of air pockets in a grid pattern. The fabric also contains a plurality of intermediate fiber regions positioned in the plurality of air pockets, where each of the intermediate fiber regions contains a plurality of rows of multi-filament fibers extending parallel to at least one of the first and second knit layers. The first knit layer and the second knit layer comprise a plurality of flame resistant fibers, a plurality of cellulosic fibers, and a plurality of modacrylic fibers blended together.

A through-air thermally bonded nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

A through-air thermally bonded nonwoven fabric is provided. The nonwoven fabric can include a first surface and a second surface and a visually discernible pattern of three-dimensional features on one of the first or second surface. Each of the three-dimensional features can define a microzone comprising a first region and a second region. The first and second regions can have a difference in values for an intensive property, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a TS7 value of less than about 15 dB V.sup.2 rms, and wherein the first surface has a TS7 value that is higher than the second surface TS7 value.

A method of manufacturing a braided footwear upper is provided. The method includes braiding a two-layer, single-tube structure with a first end that couples a first braided layer to a second braided layer, and second end that couples the first braided layer to the second braided layer of the tubular braided structure. The first end is proximate the second end. At least one yarn from the first end, and at least one yarn from the second end are braided with at least one draw yarn. The draw yarn is braided to be easily removable, such that the first end is selectively de-coupled from the second end. When the draw yarn is removed, the double-layer tubular braided structure is expandable to form a larger diameter tubular braided structure.

To provide a towel product capable of maintaining features of honeycomb weave of the conventional technique as well as providing improved water absorbency, lightness, and a good touch feeling more than those of the towels produced by the conventional technique. The towel of the present invention basically has a typical honeycomb weave structure. A first feature thereof is to use hollow yarns having a hollow ratio of a range between 30% and 60%. A shape of hollow yarns can be maintained. With the above described structure, the water absorbency, the lightness, the good touch feeling, and a drying property can be improved. A second feature is to use hollow yarns made by twisting fibers of raw cottons having an effective fiber length of a range between 25 mm and 42 mm. This contributes to maintaining of the durability.

A corrugated protective textile sleeve has a flexible, tubular wall of woven warp yarns, extending lengthwise along a longitudinal axis between opposite ends of the wall, and weft yarns, extending generally transversely to the warp yarns. At least some of the weft yarns are activatable weft yarn to shrink in length and at least some the weft yarns, adjacent the activatable weft yarn, are substantially non-activatable weft yarn. The substantially non-activatable weft yarn form crests, having a first diameter, spaced axially from one another and the activatable weft yarns, upon being activated and shrunken, form valleys, having a second diameter less than the first diameter, with at least some of the valleys extending between the crests to form the wall having a corrugated contour.