Modular attachment system and method

An item for wearing by a person and having a portion including an interwoven material matrix for receiving accessory attachments in a plurality of orientations, the matrix comprising a first set of fabric strips extending in a first direction in an interwoven manner with a second set of fabric strips extending in a second direction, wherein the first set of strips form first loop openings where portions of the first set of strips pass over the second set of strips, and wherein the second set of strips form second loop openings where portions of the second set of strips pass over the first set of strips to form a plurality of loops, whereby the first loop openings and the second loop openings extend in a direction transverse to one another, the strips ranging from about 5 millimeters to about 100 millimeters in width, wherein the strips are each made of a woven fabric material, and wherein the matrix is attachable to a flexible backing material or other flexible structure at a perimeter area of the matrix, whereby the first set of strips and second set of strips are substantially void or completely void of attachment to the flexible backing material or other flexible structure along lengths of said sets of strips, such that a coupling mechanism of one of the accessory attachments is threadable through at least one of the first loop openings or the second loop openings of the matrix to form a closed loop around the at least one of the first loop openings or the second loop openings to attach the accessory attachment to the at least one of the first loop openings or the second loop openings of the matrix.

An item to be worn by a person having a modular attachment system for securing an accessory attachment, the system comprising:

• an interwoven material matrix which comprises a first set of fabric strips interwoven in a substantially perpendicular arrangement with a second set of fabric strips, wherein the first set of strips form first loop openings where portions of the first set of strips pass over the second set of strips, and wherein the second set of strips form second loop openings where portions of the second set of strips pass over the first set of strips to form a plurality of loops, whereby the first loop openings and the second loop openings extend in a direction transverse to one another;
• wherein each of the first set of strips and the second of strips are made of a woven fabric material, including at least one of nylon, polyester, and polypropylene;
• and
• one or more modular attachment accessories, each of which comprises a coupling mechanism that threads through at least one of the plurality of loops of the matrix and is configured and arranged to form a closed loop around the at least one loop of the matrix to attach the modular attachment accessory to the at least one of the plurality of loops of the interwoven material matrix in any of a plurality of orientations, depending on which loops the coupling mechanism is secured to, wherein the matrix is attached to a flexible backing material or other flexible structure at a perimeter area of the matrix, whereby the first set of strips and second set of strips are substantially void of attachment to the flexible backing material or other flexible structure along lengths of said sets of strips such that the interwoven strips provide stability to the attached one or more modular attachment accessories.

A method of attachment to an item worn by a person comprising:

• providing an interwoven material matrix which comprises a first set of fabric strips extending generally in a first direction interwoven in a generally perpendicular arrangement with a second set of fabric strips extending in a second direction, wherein the first set of strips form first loop openings where portions of the first set of strips pass over the second set of strips, and wherein the second set of strips form second loop openings where portions of the second set of strips pass over the first set of strips to form a plurality of loops, whereby the first loop openings and the second loop openings extend in a direction transverse to one another, wherein each of the strips of the first set of fabric strips and the second of fabric strips are made of a woven fabric material;
• attaching the matrix to a backing material or other structure only at a perimeter area of the matrix;
• providing one or more modular attachment accessories, each of which comprises a coupling mechanism that threads through at least one of the plurality of loops of the matrix and is configured and arranged to form a closed loop around the at least one loop of the matrix to attach the modular attachment accessory to the at least one of the plurality of loops in either direction of the interwoven material matrix;
• and
• attaching the one or more modular attachment accessories using the coupling mechanism to one or more of the plurality of loops of the interwoven material matrix.