Amelia Earhart had her own fashion line.

Amelia Earhart had her own fashion line.

Amelia Earhart is best known for breaking barriers in aviation, though the record-setting pilot also jump-started a trend that still hits runways today (albeit the fashion kind). In the 1930s, Earhart became one of the first celebrities to create and sell her own clothing line.

Launched in 1933, four years before her final flight, Amelia Fashions included aviation clothing made specifically for women; at the time, all other pilots’ clothing was designed for men. Earhart’s line was marketed to “the woman who lives actively,” and included anti-wrinkle dresses, pants, and garments that could be worn both in the skies and on land.

Earhart’s apparel came about as a way to finance her aviation adventures. After completing her solo trip across the Atlantic in 1932, the pilot was short on cash; with the help of her husband (and manager) George Palmer Putnam, Earhart turned to creating garments to drum up funds. The venture was initially small, relying on just one seamstress who worked from a New York City hotel.

Amelia Fashions debuted with 25 budget-friendly pieces, using materials such as parachute silk and propeller-shaped buttons. Originally sold at Macy’s, the line spread to other stores, though the brand never took off in a big way. Even so, Earhart’s venture landed her another recognition in 1934: The Fashion Designers of America considered her one of the 10 best-dressed women in America.

Word of the Day

"tenacity"

Its definition is: the quality of persisting in something; determination.

Here's a sentence using it: "Her tenacity in the face of numerous setbacks ultimately led to her success in recovery."