The present disclosure relates to a multi-layered design for an article of apparel such as swimwear. In particular, at least one layer may include a stretch resistant matrix made of a thermoplastic polymer, a silicone or other similar material to provide additional support and modesty to certain areas of the apparel, such as the bust area. Further, a method of manufacturing the article of apparel is also disclosed. According to aspects described herein, the layers may be integrated using techniques to increase the overall integrity of the apparel.

Aspects herein relate to a shoulder-pad system that may be used to attenuate impact in various contexts. The shoulder-pad system may have a number of subcomponents, which may include an impact plate assembly, an impact-attenuation sub-layer, a base-layer garment, and a securing garment, among others. The shoulder-pad system may be described as modular, in that the various subcomponents may be added to, and/or removed from the system when it is desirable to do so.

Aspects herein are directed to an apparel item that promotes thermo-regulation through the use of engineered openings, venting, and/or stand-off structures. In exemplary aspects, 20-45% of the apparel item may comprise the engineered openings. Vents may be positioned on the apparel item in areas that experience high amounts of air flow to help channel air into the apparel item. The stand-off structures may be positioned on an inner-facing surface of the apparel item where they help to create a space between the apparel item and the wearer's body surface in which air can flow and help cool the wearer by promoting evaporative cooling.

A garment having one or more wipe zones for transferring away perspiration from a wearer's skin upon contact with the wearer's skin is provided herein. The wipe zones may be comprised of hydrophobic material formed from yarns having a smaller denier per filament (DPF) than adjacent non-wipe zones on the garment. In some aspects, the DPF of the wipe-zone material is within a range of 0.025 to 0.0025. The wipe zones may be positioned on an outer-facing surface of the garment or an inner-facing surface of the garment in areas that are readily accessible to remove perspiration from the wearer's hands and/or head. Methods of manufacturing a garment having wipe zones are also provided herein.

A wet sportswear takeoff helping device for the upper sportswear that is worn extremely tight to the wearer's skin; where the takeoff helping device includes one or more guides for guiding the corresponding drawstrings and a handgrip used for activation. The guides are made on the back part of the upper sportswear, each guide begins close to the hemline and propagates to the upper part of the sportswear in a continuous way, or having one or more interruptions formed along the guide. Pulling of the handgrip by the wearer's hand causes lifting of the sportswear's hemline towards the wearer's neck to facilitate removal. The invention is applicable to an ordinary T-shirt takeoff device for helping elderly or disabled people to take off the upper garment.

The present invention relates to a thermochromic garment comprising a thermochromic pigment. The present invention also relates to a process for making a thermochromic garment comprising a thermochromic pigment. The present invention further provides methods for using a thermochromic garment comprising a thermochromic pigment, including, inter alia, methods involving monitoring changes in temperature of a human subject or a portion of the human subject that is in contact with the garment. The present invention also provides an apparatus for measuring temperature changes at or near one or more areas of a human subject, where the apparatus comprises a thermochromic pigment based garment.

A wet sportswear takeoff assist, situated at the back part of the sportswear includes one or more guides selected from a strip guide, mesh guide and tuck-in guide. The guides are equipped with the corresponding drawing attachment; the drawing attachment selected from strips, mesh and sliding back part. The drawing attachments are attached on one side to the hemline within a joint region; and on the opposite side to the gripper directly, or to an intermediate connection point. The guides are attached on any sportswear surface. The gripper is situated close to the sportswear top, within the neck region, to be easily griped and pulled by hand causing lifting of the sportswear back part despite friction with the wearer's skin. The invention is useful in protection of the sportswear while taking it off over the head, and also useful in helping the elderly or disabled take off an upper garment.

A training tunic is provided with tapered front and back panels. The back panel has attached side straps that mate with matable front portions on the front panel. The end of each side strap is folded to form a pocket compartment opening upward. Where each side strap is attached to the back panel, an outer side pocket is formed along the back panel that is sized and positioned so that the side strap may be inserted into the outer side pocket. When the training tunic is worn, it is open on the sides above and below the side straps, and a sleeveless arm area is formed on each side of the garment between the shoulder seams and the side straps. Preferably the training tunic has a hood or may have a collar.

An enhanced garment and method of using the same is characterized by a garment that provides for one or more grip pads to be secured onto or integrated into the garment at locations where the grip pads may be advantageous to the user. In some embodiments, the positioning of the grip pads on or within the garment may correspond to locations wherein friction, cushioning, or other advantage is desired. When in use, the present invention may provide that the user may grip objects more securely, manipulate objects equipment more efficiently, or otherwise perform tasks in a desired way.

A shirt includes a magnetic whistle holder that holds an official's whistle, a metal lanyard whistle clip, or a metal anchor carried near the whistle against the official's shirt. The magnetic holder maintains the whistle in a predictable location for ready grasping and prevents the whistle from swinging randomly from the lanyard and bouncing into the referee's body while the official is running.