longdistancestyle
products that we plan to have avail- able for sale on our website and our brick and mortar retail
space in
Spring 2016.” Upon hearing
Laura Smith hard at work creating Worse for Wear gear.
to say the least.” When I inquired as to what kind of
preparations they had to undergo to get to where they were, she explained, “We spent months learning about types of fabrics and styles best suited for
that information I just had to ask for a tour of their build- ing that was full of historic character. The factory por- tion of the building held all sorts of high-tech looking equipment that I had never seen before, but upon
high-speed, high-risk activities
like motorcycling. We poured over dozens of different
types of sewing
machines, learning which ones worked best to create seam types that were least likely to burst on impact if you’re in an accident. We measured impact and abrasion resistance of dif- ferent fabrics and threads by building our own version of the testing machine specified in the European Standard for testing protective cloth- ing for professional motorcycle riders (SRPS EN 13595-1:2008). After more than a year of testing and research, we decided to move forward with our dream of making motorcycle apparel for women in a U.S. based manufac- turing facility of our own design. We sold our home in Austin, Texas and moved east to Richmond, Virginia, buying
a mixed-use commercial
building to double as our factory and our home. We’re currently working through the final stages of the devel- opment process on a few different
60 BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2016
inquiry, Laura and Scott were quick to give me a demo with pieces of sample fabric. I was fascinated by the process and immedi- ately had faith that the dynamic duo will create great riding apparel for us lady rid- ers. After the factory tour, we padded our way up a cool circular staircase to the sec- ond floor. Their plans for this floor include office space for Worse for Wear, as well as leasing out office space to help supple- ment their bottom line. It was currently being used as their temporary living quarters and storage space. While touring this
area, I really
started to get a sense of Laura and Scott’s personalities and could feel that they were overflowing with character. Upon completion,
the third level of the building will be a posh yet cozy apartment flat where the couple and their furry four- legged children will reside. It’s a stunning
historical space which they will make their home through the labor of their own hands. They have hired an architect
to
draft the design of the interior of the build- ing, but Scott and Laura are doing all of the remodeling themselves. We are talking about a seriously grassroots company here. I was highly impressed and so thrilled that I made the detour on my motorcycle jour- ney to view the bare beginnings of this sure-to-be masterpiece which will be the home of Worse for Wear and its founders. So, what should we expect out of Worse
for Wear in the spring? Laura explained, “Our initial product offering this spring includes well-fitting, abrasion resistant apparel that looks good both on and off the bike. We’re concentrating our efforts on abrasion resistant jeans that fit both when you’re standing up and sitting down. The cut is slightly higher in the waist to elimi- nate gapping at the back when you’re crouched over your bike. They include removable CE Approved armor in the knees and hips. We’re targeting sizes from Petite to Tall in length, along with a wide range of sizes through the waist and hips. Sizing will be realistic—based on your actual measurements—so you won’t have
Laura's husband Scott is an integral part of the operation.
discovery
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