A protective shirt includes a chest portion made of garment material including a lining on a side of the chest portion that is closest to a wearer of the protective shirt. At least one layer of neoprene is securely fastened to the lining. The at least one layer of neoprene extends from a left side of the chest portion to a right side of the chest portion, and is located at an area of the chest portion nearest to a clavicle of a wearer of the protective shirt. The at least one layer of neoprene includes a plurality of spaced-apart segments of the at least one layer of neoprene. The protective shirt includes a neoprene neck pad. Embodiments of the protective shirt include cap-sleeve, short sleeve, long sleeve, sleeveless and tank top versions. In one embodiment, the garment material includes nylon and spandex.

An adhesive for securing a nipple shield to a breast. The breast adhesive includes a flexible member, having a front side and a rear side, wherein the rear side can secure to both a breast and a nipple shield simultaneously. The flexible member includes U-shape with a first end and a second end disposed opposite one another, such that the first end and the second end are symmetrical about a vertical axis. An outer perimeter of the flexible member includes a plurality of curved flanges therealong that adhere to a user's breast. In operation, an inner perimeter of the flexible member is positioned interior to an outer perimeter of the nipple shield and the outer perimeter of the flexible member is to be positioned exterior to the outer perimeter of the nipple shield. In this way, the nipple shield is secured to a mother while breastfeeding.

A sustainable bra garment that includes first and second cup portions that are formed of one or more recycled flexible materials and first and second side wing panels that extend from the first and second cup portions, respectively, and having first and second cushioning support pads formed of a bio-based foam material that is biodegradable and/or recyclable. First and second cushioning support pads are configured to be coupled with the first and second cup portions, respectively Each of the pads is formed of an eco-friendly sustainable material, such as a sugar cane-based polymer foam material, that has hardness and density values that provide both cushioning and support to breasts of a wearer of the sustainable bra garment. The cushioning support pads may be used with a bra garment or with other garments such as swimwear and other apparel where bra support pads can be incorporated.

A sustainable bra garment that includes first and second cup portions that are formed of one or more recycled flexible materials and first and second side wing panels that extend from the first and second cup portions, respectively. The first and second side wing panels are formed of one or more recycled flexible materials. First and second cushioning support pads are configured to be coupled with the first and second cup portions, respectively, Each of the pads has front and back surfaces. The front surface of each pad has a generally convex shape and the back surface of each pad has a generally concave shape. Each of the pads is formed of a sustainable material that has hardness and density values that provide both cushioning and support to breasts of a wearer of the sustainable bra garment.

Disclosed herein is a weft knit spacer fabric (200) having variable thicknesses, comprising a first surface layer (210) formed from a first set of yarn (215); a second surface layer (220) formed from a second set of yarn (225); and a set of spacer yarn (230) between the first and second surface layers (210, 220), where the thickness is varied by varying in each course one or both of: the density of tuck stitches (235) formed by the set of spacer yarn (230) with the first and/or second surface layers (210, 220); and the thickness of the spacer yarn (230) in each course, provided that when the fabric (200) has a free-standing 3-dimensional shape, it is a moulded fabric.

Clothing articles having one or more pre-defined encapsulation zones, as well as systems and methods of producing such clothing articles. A clothing article is made of a fabric intended to cover a region of a human body of a wearer. The fabric includes at least one encapsulation zone which is surrounded by a surrounding region. The encapsulation zone includes at least a first encapsulation region, which is surrounded by a second encapsulation region, which is surrounded by a third encapsulation region. The first encapsulation region has a first level of elasticity; the second encapsulation region has a second level of elasticity that is smaller than the first level of elasticity of the first encapsulation region; the third encapsulation region has a third level of elasticity that is smaller than the second level of elasticity of the second encapsulation region.

Disclosed embodiments include an upper body shaper garment for women. The garment contours the breasts and other aspects of the chest area into a fashionable form by delivering distinct amount of compression force at select areas of the garment. In various embodiments, the shaper garment includes a support area covering the breasts and a shaping area including one or more compression zones for moving the support area to enhance the appearance of the wearer. The shaper garment may be knitted from one continuous piece of fabric with the compression areas knitted directly into the base layer. The shaper garment may also include one or more transition zones between the areas and/or zones of the garment to smoothly transition between different areas and/or zones.

A compliant scaffold incorporates a plurality of elongated apertures that form a geometric pattern enabling biaxial expansion or contraction. An elongated aperture has a pair of nodes located on opposing sides of the aperture and between a pair of antinodes located on the extended and opposing ends of the elongated aperture. A geometric pattern may have various geometric shapes, or tiles, between the plurality of apertures. The geometric tiles have a bounded perimeter formed by the plurality of elongated apertures. A substantial portion of the elongated apertures may be configured with the antinodes proximal to one of said pair of nodes of a separate elongated aperture; wherein the antinodes are closer to one of the pair of nodes than to any other antinode. This unique arrangement of the elongated apertures may be formed in biological material in vivo or ex vivo.

A compliant scaffold incorporates a plurality of elongated apertures that form a geometric pattern enabling biaxial expansion or contraction. An elongated aperture has a pair of nodes located on opposing sides of the aperture and between a pair of antinodes located on the extended and opposing ends of the elongated aperture. A geometric pattern may have various geometric shapes, or tiles, between the plurality of apertures. The geometric tiles have a bounded perimeter formed by the plurality of elongated apertures. A substantial portion of the elongated apertures may be configured with the antinodes proximal to one of said pair of nodes of a separate elongated aperture; wherein the antinodes are closer to one of the pair of nodes than to any other antinode. This unique arrangement of the elongated apertures may be formed in biological material in vivo or ex vivo.

An article of clothing is disclosed. The article of clothing a front panel. The front panel comprises an inner fabric layer; an outer fabric layer having a first portion and a second portion; and a thermoplastic strip. The first portion of the outer fabric layer is secured with the inner fabric layer. The second portion of the outer fabric layer supports the thermoplastic strip therewith. The back panel is attached to the front panel.