Apparel Article with Integral Pre-Worn Design Elements

Abstract

This disclosure generally relates to an apparel article, such as an article of clothing, that includes a pre-worn piece as a design element integral with the article of clothing. The pre-worn piece may be, for example, a cut-out of an athletic jersey, a uniform, a shirt or the like, formed in a particular design pattern, that was worn by a member of a sports team such as a professional sports team. In another aspect, the disclosure relates to a method for marketing an article or articles in a line of apparel, such as sporting goods apparel, with such pre-worn pieces affixed to the articles as integral design elements.

We/I claim: 
   
   
       1 . An apparel article comprising:
 a body portion that includes at least one pre-worn piece taken from an item that was previously worn by an individual and that is formed as a design element integral with the article.   
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1  wherein the pre-worn piece is formed in a design pattern. 
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the pre-worn piece is a cut-out of an athletic jersey. 
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 3  wherein the pre-worn piece is part of an item that was worn by a member of a professional sports team. 
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 4  wherein the pre-worn piece is in the shape of a stripe. 
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 5  wherein the apparel article includes a provenance portion containing information concerning the at least one pre-worn piece. 
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 6  further including a second pre-worn piece formed in the shape of a stripe, and disposed in spaced parallel relation to the at least one pre-worn piece. 
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 2  wherein the pre-worn piece is a cut-out of a shirt. 
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 8  wherein the shirt was worn by a professional golfer. 
   
   
       10 . A combination comprising:
 a first apparel article including a body portion with a first pre-worn piece formed as a design element integral with the first apparel article; and   a second apparel article with a body portion that includes a second pre-worn piece, formed as a design element integral with the second article, wherein the second pre-worn piece is complementary to the first pre-worn piece.   
   
   
       11 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein the first apparel article includes a provenance portion containing information concerning the first pre-worn piece. 
   
   
       12 . The combination of  claim 8  wherein the first pre-worn piece and the second pre-worn piece are formed from the same item. 
   
   
       13 . A method for making an apparel article comprising the steps of:
 forming a body portion of the apparel article;   forming a pre-worn piece from a pre-worn item;   affixing the pre-worn piece as a design element onto the body portion of the apparel article; and   affixing a provenance portion onto the body portion.