A waistband for an article of apparel is provided. The waistband may comprise at least one tunnel structure through which one or more cords may extend to allow tensioning of the waistband through pulling of the cord(s), while additionally providing comfort, stretchability, breathability, and adjustability for the wearer through integration of one or more elastic or elastically resilient portions into the waistband.

A trim piece is provided herein comprising a first zone adapted to be folded over an edge of an apparel item, a second zone, and a third zone interposed between the first and second zones. The trim piece is positioned on the apparel item such that a majority of the trim piece is positioned on an outer-facing surface of the apparel item.

A method of manufacturing leggings having a leg portion and a waistband portion, using a fabric is disclosed. The method includes brushing an outside surface of the fabric once to form a single-brushed surface. The method includes brushing an inside surface of the fabric multiple times to form a multiple-brushed surface. The method includes cutting the fabric into a plurality of pieces for the leg portion and a plurality of pieces for the waistband portion and sewing the pieces together, the waistband portion having a top edge and a bottom edge, the top edge of the waistband portion being narrower than the bottom edge of the waistband portion, the single-brushed surface of the fabric forming an inside legging surface configured to contact a wearer, and the multiple-brushed surface of the fabric forming an outside legging surface. The method includes sewing an elastic band to the top edge of the waistband.

A clasp having a body defining at least one passageway extending at least partially therethrough, at least a pair of engagement portions pivotally mounted across the body and adapted to engage an object located in said at least one passageway, and an actuation portion in communication with the at least a pair of engagement portions and biased in the engaged condition, wherein actuation of the actuation portion causes the at least a pair of engagement portions to disengage from the object against the biasing force.

A smart belt and a method for controlling the same are provided. The smart belt includes a body having a front surface and side surfaces and allowing a strap to be inserted through the side surfaces to be movable in a first direction, a gear unit provided in the body and configured to adjust an amount of tightening of the strap, and a cover configured to cover a rear surface of the body, wherein the gear unit includes a first shaft provided in a second direction intersecting with the first direction and having a first gear, and a second shaft intersecting with the first shaft and having a second gear engaged with the first gear, wherein the amount of tightening of the strap is adjusted as a rotation force of the second shaft is transferred to the first shaft through the first and second gears.

Elastic trims and articles incorporating the same, and also methods of manufacturing and processing elastic trims and articles incorporating the same, are provided. An elastic trim may include a base textile that is knitted or woven, and may further include cables that are movably positioned in tunnel structures located within the base textile, the cables having a lower stretch characteristic than the base textile. The cables may be secured and removed at certain locations, thereby imparting a variable stretch characteristic to the elastic trim. The elastic trims may be incorporated into various articles, including waistbands, apparel, footwear, and bags.

Elastic trims and articles incorporating the same, and also methods of manufacturing and processing elastic trims and articles incorporating the same, are provided. An elastic trim may include a base textile that is knitted or woven, and may further include cables that are movably positioned in tunnel structures located within the base textile, the cables having a lower stretch characteristic than the base textile. The cables may be secured and removed at certain locations, thereby imparting a variable stretch characteristic to the elastic trim. The elastic trims may be incorporated into various articles, including waistbands, apparel, footwear, and bags.

A support belt (10) includes an elongate belt (12) having a dead end region (14) and a live end region (16) and buckling (18) to releasably connect the dead and live end regions (14,16) in a relaxed tightness condition of the support belt (10) and secure the dead and live end regions (14,16) in a tightened closed condition of the support belt (10) in which a free end (20) of the live end region (16) overlies a free end (22) of the dead end region (14). The buckling (18) comprises a first anchor portion (24) fixedly secured to the live end region (16), a second anchor portion (26) configured to releasably engage apertures (28) provided in the dead end region (14) and a locking mechanism (30) pivotally connected with the first and second anchor portions (24,26) and operable to draw the first anchor portion (24) towards the second anchor portion (26) to change the tightness condition of the support belt (10) from the relaxed tightness condition to the tightened closed condition.

A method of forming a resilient band for an article of apparel includes stretching a first fabric having a first resiliency to a first stretched position and stretching a second fabric having a second resiliency to a second stretched position. The second resiliency is greater than the first resiliency. The method further includes securing the first fabric to the second fabric while the first fabric is in the first stretched position and while the second fabric is in the second stretched position. Moreover, the method includes releasing the first fabric from the first stretched position and the second fabric from the second stretched position after securing the first fabric to the second fabric.

An adjustment device includes a housing supporting a rotatable spool that is operably coupled to a tension line. The spool is configured to rotate about a first axis in a first direction to wind the tension line around the spool and is configured to rotate about the first axis in a second direction opposite the first rotational direction to unwind the at least one tension line from the spool. The device includes a lever pivotally coupled to the housing and configured to rotate about a second axis. The lever is selectively coupled to the spool to drive rotation of the spool in the first direction. The device also includes a release mechanism that is configured to selectively release the spool such that the spool is free to rotate in either the first or second direction in response to manual forces applied to the release mechanism.