Press Release: Enter to Win Pilot Sunglasses for Women
In honor of International Women’s Day, Method Seven is partnering with women-owned businesses to give away two prize packs for female pilots. The Pilot in Command (PIC) grand prize includes women’s pilot sunglasses from Method Seven ($170 - $550), a pilot watch from The Abingdon Co. ($549), apparel from flyGIRL ($135+), an aviation necklace from The Ease Collective ($119), custom prints from Pretty Plane Stickers ($35), and a "Fly Good, Don't Suck" candle from XC Candles ($23). The Second In Command (SIC) prize pack includes a $100 Method Seven gift card, flyGIRL apparel ($85+), a candle from XC Candles ($14), Two custom Pretty Plane Stickers ($15), and a signed copy of Final Flight Final Fight ($25).
The lucky winner of the PIC prize pack will receive their choice of Method Seven pilot glasses for women. The Aviatrix, a classically stylish, lightweight frame finished in matte gold, is crafted from Japanese hand-tooled titanium, and is the first to feature tangle-free nose pads that won’t snag long manes. It’s thin enough to be comfortable when coupled with noise-canceling headsets and flight helmets, providing unmatched comfort during long hours of flight. Method Seven developed the Aviatrix specifically for female pilots and is allowing the winner to choose either mineral glass SKY, polycarbonate FLT, or custom Rx lenses.
“Many girls aren't told that aviation is an option. I am super proud when I can help spark that interest in young girls,” says Ashlyn, the owner of Pretty Plane Stickers. On the precipice of a new regional airline career, the Ft. Lauderdale, FL-based flight instructor found herself suddenly without a job due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filling her time with drawing aircraft and airport diagrams, she gained a following and several requests for custom art. This sparked the creation of Pretty Plane Stickers, a company that produces posters and stickers with meaningful backstories for other pilots.
Elaine, a private pilot based in Denver CO, also found herself sidelined by the pandemic. She made the most of her time on the ground by starting XC Candles, the first aviation-themed candle company. “The best part about starting XC Candles has been meeting and connecting with so many people,” she says. Her main customers are pilots and aviation enthusiasts, who resonate with flight slogans like "Intercept the Localizer" emblazoned on the candles.
“I felt called to bring women into aviation by creating stylish products that women would want to wear,” says Natalie, a certified flight instructor based in Cincinnati, OH, who started her own brand, flyGIRL Kelley. It has become so popular that her products have been picked up by retailers like Sporty’s. In addition to managing flyGIRL, Natalie also hosts a podcast called Cockpits and Cocktails, and runs the Fly Foundation, a non-profit that offers flight training scholarships for women. Natalie attributes her success in business to the same strategies that help her and her students succeed in flight training, “Go for it! [don’t] let fear put limits on you, ask for help, take risks, and be open to opportunity!”
Within a year of earning her private pilot certificate, Abingdon started her eponymous watch company, The Abingdon Co. After noticing no aviation watches on the market specifically designed for women, the Las Vegas, NV-based entrepreneur set out to solve the problem herself. Learning to fly hasn’t been Abingdon’s only source of inspiration however. "In life if you don’t learn something from someone or someone doesn’t learn something from you, it is a day wasted," she says.
“I absolutely love turning an idea into a physical reality, creating items that not only mean something to me but have sentimental value to my customers,” says Ani, owner of The Ease Collective. Her first design, an F-15 pendant, was inspired by her love of aviation, and the fact that her husband is an F-15 fighter pilot. Since then, The Ease Collective has produced a wide range of jewelry designs that reach beyond aviation. “Especially in the beginning, the end goal can seem so overwhelming and daunting,” Ani says. When in doubt, she relies on the wisdom of Amelia Earhart: “The most effective way to do it is to do it.”
Subscribe at https://methodseven.com/giveaway/ for your chance to win a pilot prize pack! Entries are accepted until 9AM PT on March 26. The winners will be announced on March 26 via Instagram. Follow @methodsevenpilot @flygirlkelley @xc_candles @prettyplanestickers @the_ease_collective on Instagram for the latest news.
