Posted on 03/25/2024 10:11:20 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Amelia Earhart broke into an almost entirely male-dominated profession to become one of the most famous aviators of all time, but being one of a small handful of female pilots came with plenty of obstacles.
One of the more annoying problems was a lack of flight apparel designed to fit women’s bodies. At the beginning of her career, Earhart was saddled with ill-fitting clothing designed for men, which only bolstered her lifelong interest in fashion.
As a child, Earhart sewed clothing for herself and her dolls; later in life, she had a reputation for wearing practical clothing, much of which was custom-made.
In 1933, with a couple of transatlantic flights under her belt, Earhart released Amelia Fashions, a clothing line “for the woman who lives actively”; while some of the line was made for aviation, some of it was just stylish and comfortable. Earhart didn’t just lend her name to the label — she approved every step of the process and helped sew some of the garments, too. Many of the designs incorporated aviation materials, such as buttons and buckles made of ball bearings, oil cups, and bolts.
Some shirts were made from parachute silk and included tails, which were mostly exclusive to menswear at the time. She also designed hats, which she used as prizes for flying contests with the Ninety-Nines, an all-woman aviation society she helped establish.
What ultimately doomed the clothing line was that Earhart cared too much about it, and she found that working as a full-time designer took her focus away from flying and lecturing.
Was it moisture wicking?
That’s why “big fashion” had to have her killed.....
/s
If only she had studied radio communication, she might have made it home. Like too many women, she was only interested in broadcasting her voice, and never learned that the antennae was required to receive transmissions and communicate effectively.
Ironically, none of the clothes were waterproof.
She came clothes to making it.
Her fame into aviation by crashing? Everyone knows she was a lousy aviator. Good aviators know their planes limitations and their own limitations.
She married a somewhat older, rich divorcee, George P. Putnam. His life appears to be much more worthy of a feature film than any more drivel about Amelia Earhart.
She was mostly a marketing gimmick who wound up believing her pr, to her cost.
She also design luggage... American Tourister discontinued it around 1995.
For the record, many women produced clothing, in house.
The basements of J.C. Penney stores were jammed with sewing gear, patterns, and materials.
There were children’s stores, women’s stores, and men’s stores.
Separate stores for suits, for dresses, for shoes, for boots.
Repair stores dedicated to each.
Very large, multi-floor industrial buildings that were filled with all the necessary raw materials - and also manufactured enormous bolts of fabric.
I miss the skill level - you could trust MANY people to properly cut and sew, making a dress, a suit, a pair of boots or shoes, a fine, insulated winter coat.
Up to, and thru, and after Amelia Earhart.
All those men my have identified as women, and there are no genders or sexes anyway, so this article is moot.
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