US Patent 7278174 Adjustable garment waistband and method of manufacture

A figure defining and contouring garment, which outlines and defines a wearer's body contours in a fashionable and comfortable manner, includes a waistband coupled to a body with a rear tunnel that extends along the inside rear of the garment from the lower rise or crotch area to the waistband and a waistband tunnel that extends through the waistband. A drawstring anchored in the lower rise area extends upwardly through the rear tunnel to the waistband where it transitions to the waistband tunnel through a diverter region in the waistband. The drawstring transition between the rear and waistband tunnels is advantageously hidden within the waistband. The drawstring is used to adjust the fit of the garment by pulling on the drawstring to tighten the drawstring. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter region of the waistband is substantially fixed relative to the lower rise portion of the garment, which results in the rear tunnel and the center rear of the garment being drawn inwardly to define the contours of a wearer's body.