Patent ID: 8555415

Claim:
An article of apparel comprising: a pelvic region for covering a pelvic area of a wearer, the pelvic region including a waistband for extending around a waist of the wearer, the waistband having: a first layer and a second layer that lay adjacent to each other, and a plurality of strand segments located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand segments extending at least partially around the waistband, the strand segments laying substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters, and the strand segments being bonded to the first layer and the second layer along the distances of at least five centimeters; a pair of leg regions for covering at least a portion of leg areas of the wearer; wherein the pelvic region defines at least one aperture located in a front area of the waistband, and a lace extends through the aperture, the lace being a separate element from the strand segments; wherein a thermoplastic polymer material is located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand segments being bonded to the first layer and the second layer with the thermoplastic polymer material; and wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is absent in areas between the strand segments.