Athletic apparel

Abstract

A fabric material includes a plurality of synthetic yarns, the yarns including staple fibers having a range of denier values. The polyester staple fibers have deniers ranging from about 0.5 denier per filament to about 2.0 denier per filament. Additionally, more than 50% of the staple fibers present in the fabric possess a length of greater than 1 inch.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel comprising fabric including a plurality of filaments, wherein at least some of the filaments have an irregular filament cross-section comprising:
 a first bulbous end portion;   a second bulbous end portion opposite the first bulbous end portion;   a first exterior curved portion extending between the first bulbous end portion and the second bulbous end portion, the first exterior curved portion possessing a first length;   a second exterior curved portion extending between the first bulbous end portion and the second bulbous end portion, the second exterior curved portion possessing a second length, the first length of the first exterior curved portion being greater than the second length of the second exterior curved portion; and   a continuous interior wall defining an interior opening within the filament that is disposed between the first exterior curved portion and the second exterior curved portion.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of filaments further comprises a plurality of first filaments each possessing a first denier, and a plurality of second filaments each possessing a second denier that differs from the first denier. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the first denier is less than the second denier. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first filaments and the second filaments has the irregular filament cross-section. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first denier and second denier is from about 0.5 dpf to about 2.0 dpf. 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of filaments further comprises a plurality of third filaments each possessing a third denier that differs from the first denier and the second denier. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first denier is 0.95-1.05 dpf;   the second denier is 1.15-1.25 dpf; and   the third denier is 1.3-1.7 dpf.   
     
     
         8 . The article of apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the fabric comprises a knit textile of yarns formed from the plurality of filaments. 
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the fabric further comprises a functional print layer applied to a surface of the knit textile. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 9 , wherein the functional print layer comprises a bioceramic material. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is a shirt. 
     
     
         12 . An article of apparel comprising a fabric including a plurality of yarns formed of staple fibers, wherein the staple fibers have denier values ranging from about 0.5 denier per filament to about 2.0 denier per filament, and wherein more than 50% of the staple fibers forming the fabric material a length of greater than one inch. 
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein at least some of the staple fibers have an irregular cross-section comprising:
 a first bulbous end portion;   a second bulbous end portion opposite the first bulbous end portion;   a first exterior curved portion extending between the first bulbous end portion and the second bulbous end portion, the first exterior curved portion possessing a first length;   a second exterior curved portion extending between the first bulbous end portion and the second bulbous end portion, the second exterior curved portion possessing a second length, the first length of the first exterior curved portion being greater than the second length of the second exterior curved portion; and   a continuous interior wall defining an interior opening within the filament that is disposed between the first exterior curved portion and the second exterior curved portion.   
     
     
         14 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein the staple fibers have deniers ranging from about 0.95 dpf to about 1.7 dpf. 
     
     
         15 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein the staple fibers comprise a plurality of first fibers each possessing a first denier, and a plurality of second fibers each possessing a second denier that differs from the first denier. 
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein the staple fibers further comprise a plurality of third fibers each possessing a third denier that differs from the first denier and the second denier. 
     
     
         17 . The article of apparel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first denier is 0.95-1.05 dpf;   the second denier is 1.15-1.25 dpf; and   the third denier is 1.3-1.7 dpf.   
     
     
         18 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein the fabric further comprises a functional print layer applied to a surface of the knit textile. 
     
     
         19 . The article of apparel of  claim 18 , wherein the functional print layer comprises a bioceramic material. 
     
     
         20 . The article of apparel of  claim 12 , wherein the article of apparel is a shirt.