The invention provides an antimicrobial fiber which exhibits excellent antimicrobial properties even without the addition of antimicrobial agents and can remain antimicrobial even after repeated washing. The antimicrobial fiber comprises a fiber having on a surface thereof a polyacetal copolymer (X) containing oxyalkylene groups, the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups in the polyacetal copolymer (X) being 0.2 to 5 mol% relative to the total of the molar amount of oxymethylene groups and the molar amount of oxyalkylene groups.

An article of apparel, comprising: a garment structure, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a human body; and a body position feedback system integrally formed as part of the garment structure at the at least one predetermined portion of the human body, wherein the body position feedback system includes at least a first region having a higher compressive force application capability than a compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up a largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein a stretching, elongation or moving action of the body against the first region will cause some level of compression or resistance to the stretching, elongation or movement without substantially impeding, altering or affecting desired movement, and wherein the first region has a different stitching, knitting or weaving pattern as compared to a stitching, knitting or weaving pattern making up the largest proportion of the garment structure.

An elastic knitted fabric comprising an elastic yarn and a non-elastic yarn, the elastic knitted fabric being characterized in that: the elastic yarn content is 20-60 g/m²; when the knitted fabric is stretched to 80% and then returned to the original length and the forward-movement stress and the return-movement stress at the 50% point during the stretching and contracting are measured, the stress ratio measured using the following relationship: stress ratio = (return-movement stress (N) at the 50% point)/(forward-movement stress (N) at the 50% point) is 0.40-0.80; and the instantaneous temperature rise caused by heat generation during stretching in the warp and/or weft direction is at least 1.0°C.

Underwear includes: a front body (10) formed by a stretchable material and having a cylindrical high neck portion (11) covering a neck at a top portion thereof; and a back body (13) formed by a stretchable material, having both bottom side edges stitched to both bottom side edges of the front body (10), a top edge stitched to a region from a bottom end of the neck portion (11) to a shoulder, and both top side edges forming armholes (3), wherein the front body (10) is made of a cylindrical material and is formed by cutting the cylindrical material in an axial direction from a bottom opening portion thereof to the high neck portion (11), and the back body (13) is made of a cylindrical material and is formed by cutting the cylindrical material in an axial direction from one end opening portion thereof to the other end opening portion.

A garment 10 for holding a disposable absorbent article 21 comprising a front section 11; a rear section 12; a crotch section 13 disposed between the front section 11 and the rear section 12; and a pair of elasticised leg openings 14; characterised in that the garment 10 comprises elasticised pressure zones 15 to create at least one pocket 16 in the front section 11 or the rear section 12; the pocket 16 being located inboard of the elasticised leg openings 14.

A garment 10 for holding a disposable absorbent article 21 comprising a front section 11; a rear section 12; a crotch section 13 disposed between the front section 11 and the rear section 12; and a pair of elasticised leg openings 14; characterised in that the garment 10 comprises elasticised pressure zones 15 to create at least one pocket 16 in the front section 11 or the rear section 12; the pocket 15 being located inboard of the elasticised leg openings 14.