A garment that is configured to attach to a bikini bottom is provided. The garment includes a band that is configured to be worn by a user. The band has a generally uniform circumference and includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least one attachment device that is configured to releasably attach the bottom portion to the top portion for securing the band to the bikini bottom when the bottom portion is received through at least one leg opening of the bikini bottom.

Therapeutic clothing includes a garment adapted to be worn over a lower portion of a body having a waistband and first and second legs extending below the waistband. The therapeutic clothing has a first elongated sensory strip attached to an outside surface of the first leg and extending along the length of the first leg between the waistband and a lower end of the first leg. The first elongated sensory strip has an inner edge attached to the outside surface of the first leg and a free outer edge. The therapeutic clothing has a second elongated sensory strip attached to an outside surface of the second leg and extending along the length of the second leg between the waistband and a lower end of the second leg. The second sensory strip has an inner edge attached to the outside surface of the second leg and a free outer edge.

A structure for an article of clothing is provided and may include a first material layer defining an opening of the article of clothing and having a first portion defining an inner surface of the opening and an outer surface formed on an opposite side of the first portion than the inner surface and defining an outer surface of the opening. The structure may additionally include a plastic film attached to the inner surface and movable between a relaxed state and an expanded state, whereby the plastic film substantially surrounds the opening of the article of clothing.

A swimwear apparatus is provided. The swimwear apparatus may include an upper portion having an upper base layer and an upper bikini layer, and a lower portion having a lower base layer and a lower bikini layer. The upper bikini layer may be configured to be removably attached to the upper base layer, and the lower bikini layer may be configured to be removably attached to the lower base layer.

Swimsuits are provided which include an outer shell made of a flexible stretchable fabric, locally reinforced regions in which an additional inner layer of a flexible stretchable fabric is attached from inside to the outer shell so that the locally reinforced regions have a greater tensile stiffness than a tensile stiffness of said outer shell alone, non-reinforced regions formed by said outer shell alone and having only the tensile stiffness of said outer shell alone, wherein the stretchable fabric of the outer shell and the stretchable fabric of the only locally applied inner layer include both woven-in carbon fiber reinforcement, and the stretchable fabric of the outer shell has bi-directionally woven-in carbon fiber reinforcement and anisotropic stretch properties. Methods for making such swimsuits are also provided.

Swimsuits are provided which include an outer shell made of a flexible stretchable fabric, a thoracic reinforced region arranged in an anterior thoracic region of a trunk portion of the swimsuit and having an anterior-downward converging shape, and an abdominal reinforced region arranged in a lower abdominal and hip region of the trunk portion and having an anterior-upward converging shape, two non-reinforced waist regions arranged in opposite lateral waist regions of the trunk portion and having both a medially converging shape, wherein the thoracic reinforced region, the abdominal reinforced region and the non-reinforced waist regions border in an X pattern in an anterior region of the trunk portion. Methods of making such swimsuits are also provided.

An article of clothing is provided and includes a body having a first panel and a second panel cooperating to define a pair of leg openings that receive respective legs of a person during use, whereby at least one of the first panel and the second panel is formed from a first material having a first modulus of elasticity. A waistband is coupled to the first panel and the second panel and includes a waist opening that is positioned at a waist of a person during use. The waistband includes a first portion partially surrounding a first length of the waist opening and formed of a second material having a second modulus of elasticity and a second portion partially surrounding a second length of the waist opening and formed of a third material having a third modulus of elasticity greater than the second modulus of elasticity.

A garment, particularly swimwear, to cover a wearer's body between the waist and thighs has a shell of substantially impermeable material, a permeable inner lining material which lies next to the wearer's skin in use and an antimicrobial agent disposed between the shell of substantially impermeable material and the inner lining material. The antimicrobial agent may be Silver which has been deposited by a physical deposition process onto a textile disposed between the shell and inner lining material. The garment may form a lining of a swim nappy, the combination providing an article of swimwear.

Aspects herein provide for a pocket structure for an apparel item. The apparel item comprises an outer panel of material, an inner panel of material, a pocket panel, and a double-layer trim piece such as a waistband. A top edge of the outer panel is affixed to an outer layer of the waistband, and a top edge of the inner panel is affixed to an inner layer of the waistband. The pocket panel is positioned between the inner panel and the outer panel, and a top edge of the pocket panel is affixed to the outer layer of the waistband, and a bottom edge of the pocket panel is affixed to the inner panel of material. A pocket space is defined between the pocket panel and the inner panel of material. An opening to the space is formed through the outer layer of the waistband.

The present invention relates to a self-supporting garment for the lower body, closed either only in front or in back, or partially open in front and in back, comprising a lower support strap (5; 11) and one or two upper support straps (4; 9,10), which are connected to one another at a front connecting point (6; 12) and/or at a rear connecting point (7; 13), where the support straps lying against the pelvis (4,5) or support straps (9,10) and their respective connecting points (6; 7; 12,13) are manufactured of a dimensionally stable and elastic material.