Rosies founder, Sharon Moore

It was about 7 years ago when Rosies’ founder, Sharon Moore, enrolled in her first welding class.  It was in this class that she got the idea for Rosies Workwear. When she went looking to buy coveralls to wear in class, all she found were ones designed for men. They were big and bulky and not in the least bit feminine. As they say necessity is the mother of invention, so Sharon created Rosies Workwear.  Since then other women welders as well as women mechanics, builders, painters, DIYers, farmers and gardeners have discovered the tough, durable and stylish overalls and coveralls that is Rosies. While we are thrilled to share with so many “can do” women, it’s welding that holds a special place in our heart.

Unfortunately, we are in a small minority. It was mentioned on carmenelectrode.com, a blog for women welders, that according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics the percentage of women working in the welding industry has actually declined – it is now LOWER than 6%. The news isn’t all doom and gloom. Check out this video we found on Carmen’s website. It’s of a girl’s summer day camp which is called coincidentally, Rosies Girls.  As the blog says, “It’s a place to learn skills (carpentry, welding, etc) that build confidence…This is an awesome way to introduce girls to career options that even today don’t seem accessible to women.” We couldn’t agree more.

From time to time, Rosies features a guest blogger. Below is a post by Nicky Warner. Nicky frequently contributes to blogs, specifically ones about womens workwear.If you would like to contribute to Rosies blog, please let us know.

During the 1940’s, the Second World War revolutionised the role of women in the workplace as former housewives took up positions in munitions factories, exchanging seamed stockings for industrial workwear clothing and replacing their high heels with a sturdy pair of protective boots. The working woman grew to be represented by the iconic image of Rosie the Riveter, the famous lady in protective workwear and a bandanna who proclaims “We Can Do It!”

While some women returned to their old way of life at the end of the war, the era paved the way for those who weren’t afraid to roll up the sleeves of their workwear uniforms and get their hands dirty. Since then, countless women have stepped into mens work boots to continue Rosie’s legacy.

While working in a wartime factory must have been a trying and tiring experience, many women today find fulfilment in  jobs that were first considered to be traditionally male occupations. Real-life Rosies are everywhere; they strut proudly in their workwear trousers and heavy boots, embodying the spirit of that cultural icon who effortlessly combined mascara and red lipstick with denim workwear overalls and toned biceps. Women in workwear scale construction scaffolding, brandish welding tools and emerge from under the bonnets of newly-repaired cars with grease-smeared, smiling faces. Even ladies who prefer a less physical occupation will don workwear overalls to tend to their gardens, paint their homes or tackle DIY renovation projects. All are labors of love.

The reward of hard work and fully throwing yourself into a physically demanding project is undeniable. And of course, every hard-working lady wants to look her best while going about her day. Womens workwear design has come a long way since the 40’s, and ladies in stylish, feminine workwear are a common sight.

What is your labour of love? Are you a welder or mechanic, or do you slip into your workwear clothes to enjoy a day of gardening? Share your story with Rosies and tell us what tasks bring joy to your day!

Now until Labor Day, we are celebrating Rosies’ Labor of Love. Tell us what you’re passionate about (gardening, horses, welding, working on cars, ranching, etc) and submit a  picture of yourself in action on our Facebook page and have a chance to receive our “classic” denim coverall. Feel free to add links to a website or blog. If there is one thing all Rosies love to do, is share information and support women in their causes.

Here’s our favorite “Labor of Love” for this week from Linda Traux: “My favorite thing to do is gardening, but with that my other favorite, digging. When I plant something in my yard you cannot dig too deep until you hit a rock. Not just a small one–a huge rock..I try not to let the rock win…I will stick with it until I get it out using my shovel and crowbar. Once I have it I proudly place it in a nice spot in my garden and of course take pictures. When it is a good find, my friends need to see and hear about it…lol..love digging!” You could say Linda really digs her rock garden.

Believe it or not, July is anti-boredom month. We asked Rosies what they do when there is nothing to do. We think this Rosie said it best:

Darlene Nieman Morris I’m still waiting to find out, if I ever have nothing to do!

Thanks for sharing and we couldn’t agree more. In between traveling, visiting with our fellow Rosies and starting a million projects, we’ve been busy working on some new clothing items and colors to add our line of overalls and coveralls. We think you’re gonna love them. Speaking of love. We’re ramping up for our Labor Day giveaway, we’re calling “Labor of Love”. Tell us what your labor of love is (gardening, horses, welding, working on cars, ranching, etc) and submit a  picture of yourself in action on our Facebook page and have a chance to win our “classic” denim coverall.
It’s perfect for fall clean-up. Not exactly everyone’s labor of love. But you might as well do it in style.

Rosies are known for their can do attitude. We won’t let a little heat get us down. Attached is a YouTube video of how to make your own air conditioner. Should be fun for us mechanically inclined Rosies. Let us know how it worked for you?

From time to time, we will share a more in-depth Rosie story that exemplifies our can do spirit. Please enjoy this feature of Wind Dance Farm on this holiday where we celebrate our independence.

Tucked amongst rolling green hills and beautiful homes you will find the elegant yet charming Wind Dance Farm. The 40 acres is home to budding olive trees, organic, sustainable gardens, a herd of alpacas, a brood of chickens, a breathtaking home and grounds, a lavender paradise in the making and a three-generational family working together to breathe life into this lifelong dream. There is richness and something very pure found on this beautiful farm hidden in the hills of Avila, CA, and beyond its gates is the story of one family’s dream becoming a reality.

(more…)

In celebration of National Dairy month, the Rosies team visited Happy Acres Farm, a California state licensed working goat dairy, owned by Stephanie Simonin seen below in our new Rosies raspberry overalls. Happy Acres is a busy and happy place operated by four women with family support. The goat milk is all natural and hormone-free. The milk has a wonderfully high butterfat content essential in producing dairy products such as fresh goat milk, cheese, ice-cream, lotion, and soap.

Like this blog and have a chance to recieve a free bottle of goat milk body lotion.

Here’s a great way to beat the heat. Order our super cool tank and get a Rosies bandana free.

Our 100% cotton tank is perfect underneath our Rosies Coveralls or Overalls.

Dab your brow with polka dot flair with our 22×22 inch square darling.

Crystal Beckvold of Dedham, Massachusettes won our Dirtiest Rosie Contest. Below is the winning entry from Crystal during and after an engine swap. For her efforts, Crystal will receive a brand new pair of  sea green overalls which she says she will put to good use and we believe her.

Taking out an engine is all in a day's fun for Crystal.

Crystal tells us in addition to being our Dirtiest Rosie she was featured  in Street Rodder Magazine May of 2009 and won a scholarship for the “Most Influential Women in Collision Repair” back in 2007. Winning Dirtiest Rosie is just “another badge to add to my resume,” Cyrstal said. To see the other Dirtiest Rosie submissions click here. Thanks to everyone who entered. Keep up the dirty work!!