Apparatus and associated methods relate to a pop-up vest, illustratively implemented as a flotation apparel item comprising a water sport apparel item, an inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) configured in the water sport apparel item, and an inflation trigger configured to inflate the PFD. The water sport apparel item may comprise a shirt, t-shirt, wetsuit or rash guard. The water sport apparel item may be adapted to retain the PFD between an outer apparel item layer and a base apparel item layer sewn together. The inflation trigger may be a pull tab configured to inflate the PFD when desired. The inflation trigger may be a sensor configured to automatically inflate the PFD when the sensor is wet. An exemplary pop-up vest implementation may be configured with a water activated light to improve visibility. Some pop-up vest designs may comprise a whistle permitting the user to raise awareness of their location.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a pop-up vest, illustratively implemented as a flotation apparel item comprising a water sport apparel item, an inflatable Personal Flotation Device (PFD) configured in the water sport apparel item, and an inflation trigger configured to inflate the PFD. The water sport apparel item may comprise a shirt, t-shirt, wetsuit or rash guard. The water sport apparel item may be adapted to retain the PFD between an outer apparel item layer and a base apparel item layer sewn together. The inflation trigger may be a pull tab configured to inflate the PFD when desired. The inflation trigger may be a sensor configured to automatically inflate the PFD when the sensor is wet. An exemplary pop-up vest implementation may be configured with a water activated light to improve visibility. Some pop-up vest designs may comprise a whistle permitting the user to raise awareness of their location.

A pain-relieving garment for therapeutic pain relief includes a shell that is meshed. The shell is shaped complementarily to a portion of a body of a user so that the shell is configured to position over the portion of the body of the user. A plurality of pads is coupled to the shell so that each pad is positioned proximate to an area of pain in the portion of the body of the user. Each pad comprises a radiant barrier so that the pad is configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the body to provide localized heating of the area of pain to reduce a level of pain.

A pain-relieving garment for therapeutic pain relief includes a shell that is meshed. The shell is shaped complementarily to a portion of a body of a user so that the shell is configured to position over the portion of the body of the user. A plurality of pads is coupled to the shell so that each pad is positioned proximate to an area of pain in the portion of the body of the user. Each pad comprises a radiant barrier so that the pad is configured to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted by the body to provide localized heating of the area of pain to reduce a level of pain.

Embodiments of the present invention replace relatively bulky nonwoven thermal insulating materials used in thermal liners with thin, lightweight, flexible films that maintain or improve TPP performance while reducing the thickness, and enhancing the flexibility, of the thermal liner so as to increase wearer comfort. Moreover, the films incorporated into the thermal liners can be both air and vapor permeable such that the TPP performance is not realized at the expense of THL performance. Rather, the THL performance of garments incorporating embodiments of thermal liners contemplated herein is comparable toif not improved overgarments formed with traditional thermal liners.

Embodiments of the present invention replace relatively bulky nonwoven thermal insulating materials used in thermal liners with thin, lightweight, flexible films that maintain or improve TPP performance while reducing the thickness, and enhancing the flexibility, of the thermal liner so as to increase wearer comfort. Moreover, the films incorporated into the thermal liners can be both air and vapor permeable such that the TPP performance is not realized at the expense of THL performance. Rather, the THL performance of garments incorporating embodiments of thermal liners contemplated herein is comparable toif not improved overgarments formed with traditional thermal liners.

Hard armor plate pouches incorporated in a ballistic vest carrier cover that has armor panel pockets with side openings and waist panels. The pouches are attached to the carrier cover outer layer inside the armor pockets with access through the outer layer. The pouch is a single fabric sheet attached to the outer layer around the sheet perimeter, a bag that hangs freely in the pocket, or a bag that hangs in the pocket from the shoulders and neck opening of the cover. The front pouch has side and bottom lobes to ease installation of the armor plate. The pouch is accessed via a lateral or vertical opening in the outer layer that is closed by an openable fastener. Optionally, the waist panels have side pouches that have openings at the side or the top.

A dress includes an outer garment including a front fabric panel coupled to a back fabric panel at first and second seams and an under garment coupled to an inner layer of the outer garment such that the outer garment is configured to cover the under garment. The under garment includes a back fabric layer coupled to a front fabric layer of the under garment at a closure of a crotch section and at third and fourth seams such that the respective inner surfaces of the front fabric layer and the back fabric layer face each other. The back fabric layer includes a right compressive panel formed from a compression layer material, a left compressive panel formed from a compression layer material, and lining material extending between the right compressive panel and the left compressive panel. The compression layer material has a higher elastic modulus than the lining material.

A dress includes an outer garment including a front fabric panel coupled to a back fabric panel at first and second seams and an under garment coupled to an inner layer of the outer garment such that the outer garment is configured to cover the under garment. The under garment includes a back fabric layer coupled to a front fabric layer of the under garment at a closure of a crotch section and at third and fourth seams such that the respective inner surfaces of the front fabric layer and the back fabric layer face each other. The back fabric layer includes a right compressive panel formed from a compression layer material, a left compressive panel formed from a compression layer material, and lining material extending between the right compressive panel and the left compressive panel. The compression layer material has a higher elastic modulus than the lining material.

Aspects herein are directed to a trim piece assembly that can be incorporated into an article of apparel, where the trim piece assembly is used to house a drawcord. The trim piece assembly is constructed and incorporated into the article of apparel in such a way that there is no topstitching on the external-facing surface of the article of apparel in areas where the trim piece assembly is located.