American Kitefliers Association

It used to amaze me why students in schools would react with gasps of horror / shock / disbelief when I told them that kite making was still predominantly a male enterprise throughout the world... men with sewing machines!  Whatever next!?? - they seemed to say.

So, why not the same reaction to those males in the fashion industry who design and cut and sew suits, for example, or craft ladies' dresses in the family-owned tailoring shops throughout Asia!??? 

A conundrum! 

kitelady wrote:

It used to amaze me why students in schools would react with gasps of horror / shock / disbelief when I told them that kite making was still predominantly a male enterprise throughout the world... men with sewing machines!  Whatever next!?? - they seemed to say.

Greetings -

One of the first things I did in kiting many, many years ago was to set up a kites as art display in an art gallery in Portland, Oregon. Near the middle of the display was one of bill lockhart's phone booth (remember those?) sized box kites.  It was always fun when folks would come in and ask how SHE sewed this or that and I would have to explain how HE did it.  Shock!  Disbelief!

I always point out that the world's best tailors are usually paratroopers, Army Rangers, and other combat troops that jump out of planes. If your life depends on your stitchwork, you tend to get good at it. And I don't see many kids sniggering at Navy SEALS.

I was a paratrooper for six years and trust me when I tell you we took all our sewing to a Korean seamstress. Paratroopers are trained to kill without mercy we don't have time for sewing. On most sunny Sautrdays I eat a box of nails for breakfest then go trap shooting.

On the beach recently during working hours, Kevin & I were testing new product and after setting mine up okay, I helped by holding a bridle while Kevin  made necessary adjustments.  A bystander (younger than us even!) invited himself into our technical discussion - our "work"- never stopping for a moment to ask what we were doing, but finished by telling Keivn he ought to "get the little lady to sew something onto the tails for you"...

He totally missed the fact that as the Company Boss, I was guiding my staff to make a correct decision, and that I was also the one overseeing the sewing, not doing it.