Article of apparel incorporating a zoned modifiable textile structure

Abstract

An article of apparel is disclosed that includes zones with a textile having a structure than changes or is otherwise modified by a physical stimulus, such as the presence of water or a temperature change, to modify a property of the textile. The zones may be along a center back area and/or side areas of the apparel, and the textile may increase in air permeability when exposed to water. In some embodiments, slits are formed in the textile.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a torso region having a front area, a back area, and a pair of side areas, at least a first portion of the torso region being formed from a woven material comprising:
 a plurality of weft yarns that are dimensionally stable upon exposure to moisture, 
 a first plurality of warp yarns that are dimensionally stable upon exposure to moisture; and 
 a second plurality of warp yarns that dimensionally transform upon exposure to moisture, wherein when the woven material is not exposed to moisture, an area of openings formed between the plurality of weft yarns, the first plurality of warp yarns, and the second plurality of warp yarns is relatively less compared to an area of the openings when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of warp yarns includes filaments of a moisture absorbing polyester and filaments of a non-absorptive polyester, and wherein the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a dimensional transformation upon absorbing moisture. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein when the woven material is not exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a first degree of undulation. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein when the woven material is exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a second degree of undulation that is greater than the first degree of undulation. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein when the woven material is not exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a first degree of thickness. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 5 , wherein when the woven material is exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a second degree of thickness greater than the first degree of thickness. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of weft yarns is straight when the woven material is not exposed to moisture and when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel of  claim 7 , wherein the first plurality of warp yarns is straight when the woven material is not exposed to moisture and when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein a permeability of the woven material is increased when the woven material is exposed to moisture compared to when the woven material is not exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is a shirt. 
     
     
         11 . An article of apparel comprising:
 a torso region having a front area, a back area, and a pair of side areas, at least a first portion of the torso region being formed from a woven material comprising:
 a plurality of weft yarns that are dimensionally stable upon exposure to moisture, 
 a first plurality of warp yarns that are dimensionally stable upon exposure to moisture; and 
 a second plurality of warp yarns that dimensionally transform upon exposure to moisture, wherein when the woven material is not exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a first degree of undulation and a first degree of thickness, and wherein when the woven material is exposed to moisture, the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a second degree of undulation that is greater than the first degree of undulation and a second degree of thickness that is greater than the first degree of thickness. 
   
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel of  claim 11 , wherein when the woven material is not exposed to moisture, an area of openings formed between the plurality of weft yarns, the first plurality of warp yarns, and the second plurality of warp yarns is relatively less compared to an area of the openings when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 11 , wherein the second plurality of warp yarns includes filaments of a moisture absorbing polyester and filaments of a non-absorptive polyester, and wherein the second plurality of warp yarns exhibit a dimensional transformation upon absorbing moisture. 
     
     
         14 . The article of apparel of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of weft yarns is straight when the woven material is not exposed to moisture and when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         15 . The article of apparel of  claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of warp yarns is straight when the woven material is not exposed to moisture and when the woven material is exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 11 , wherein a permeability of the woven material is increased when the woven material is exposed to moisture compared to when the woven material is not exposed to moisture. 
     
     
         17 . The article of apparel of  claim 11 , wherein the article of apparel is a shirt.