Apparel incorporating tensile strands

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, the first layer and the second layer defining portions of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the apparel,
• a plurality of strand segments located between the first layer and the second layer and laying substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters, and
• a thermoplastic polymer material located between the first layer and the second layer, the thermoplastic polymer material joining the strand segments to the first layer and the second layer;
• 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;
• and
• wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is absent in areas between the strand segments.

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 defining a front area, a rear area located opposite the front area, a first side area located between the front area and the rear area, and a second side area located opposite the first side area and between the front area and the rear area, and 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 and laying substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer for distances of at least five centimeters, a first group of the strand segments extending from the first side area to the rear area, and a second group of the strand segments extending from the second side area to the rear area, the first group of the strand segments crossing the second group of the strand segments in the rear area;
• 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 the front area, 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.

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, the first layer and the second layer defining at least one aperture that extends through the first layer and the second layer, and
• a plurality of strand segments located between the first layer and the second layer, the strand segments laying substantially parallel to surfaces of the first layer and the second layer, and the strand segments extending outward from the aperture, and
• a lace extending through the aperture;
• and
• a pair of leg regions for covering at least a portion of leg areas of the wearer.