Patent ID: 8745769

Claim:
A method for manufacturing an athletic garment including a panel for reducing drag on an appendage of a wearer, the method comprising the steps of: forming the athletic garment from a textile, the athletic garment including a panel that is configured to substantially encircle the appendage of the wearer, wherein the panel is configured to reduce drag on the appendage of the wearer from an oncoming fluid consisting of at least one of water and air; the method of forming the panel of the athletic garment further comprises forming a first panel region having a first texture configured to channel a flow pattern of the oncoming fluid without disrupting a laminar flow; forming a second panel region having a second texture including a first group of ridges configured to transition the flow pattern of the oncoming fluid from laminar flow to a turbulent flow; and forming a third panel region having a third texture including a second group of ridges configured to increase the turbulent flow of the oncoming fluid, wherein the second group of ridges are wider than the first group of ridges.