Thermoforming process for patterned fabric substrate

A method of making a molded 3-dimensional fabric article, the process comprising the steps of:

• (i) providing a thermoformable fabric substrate having a top face and a bottom face;
• (ii) applying an uncured elastomeric coating composition comprising an elastomeric polymer onto the top and/or bottom face of the fabric substrate in accordance with a pattern to form a thermoformable blank patterned with the uncured elastomeric coating composition;
• (iii) thermoformably moulding the blank by applying a 3-dimensional mold for a period of time to provide a 3-dimensional molded article that is patterned with a cured elastomeric coating composition;
• and
• (iv) removing the molded article from the mold, and optionally trimming any excess fabric, to provide a molded 3-dimensional fabric article, wherein
• the 3-dimensional mold in step (iii) is applied at a temperature and pressure sufficient to form the desired 3-dimensional molded article from the thermoformable fabric substrate and cure the uncured elastomeric coating composition during the period of time that it is applied to the blank, and
• the molded 3-dimensional fabric article is a textile, forms the whole of a garment or forms a part of a garment.