U.S. women seek feminine ways to carry concealed guns

Record ID: 84728

  • Title: U.S. women seek feminine ways to carry concealed guns
  • Date: 6th October 2016
  • Summary: GHENT, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (OCTOBER 5, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HOLSTER GARMENTS ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF GUN SHOP CO-OWNER, NADINE GAZZOLA, ARRANGING MERCHANDISE (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUN SHOP CO-OWNER, NADINE GAZZOLA, SAYING: "Predominately, they are made by men and therefore, they make what's comfortable for them. Women have a different body type. We have more curves. We have just a different shape than men, so they need to fit more comfortable for a woman's body. So there has been more of a rise in making things that are more comfortable for a woman's body." VARIOUS OF PRODUCT LABELS (SOUNDBITE) (English) GUN SHOP CO-OWNER, NADINE GAZZOLA, SAYING: "There's a high rise of women, even women designing holsters for women. So they've realized that it's a niche market. Women are on the rise of getting their pistol permits and being gun holders. So there needs to be something for them also." VARIOUS OF GAZZOLA DISPLAYING GARTER HOLDER GAZZOLA TALKING TO PATRICIA CUTLER, WHO BEGAN THE WOMEN'S CONCEALED CARRY FASHION SHOW (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOMEN'S CONCEALED CARRY FASHION SHOW FOUNDER, PATRICIA CUTLER, SAYING: "In 2012, I became very interested in carrying my firearm and had a difficult time finding a holster in the gun stores. So we grouped together with a bunch of friends and we were going to have nacho night at my house and put our rigs on and try to figure out how to wear them. And the interest grew so much that we decided to do it at the gun club." GAZZOLA DISPLAYING GUN HOLSTER BELT (SOUNDBITE) (English) WOMEN'S CONCEALED CARRY FASHION SHOW FOUNDER, PATRICIA CUTLER, SAYING: "The fashion show has got a lot of different aspects - carrying different places on your body. There are a lot of safety issues with that too, and there are a lot of holsters out there that I wouldn't recommend for women. But still women are going to buy them, so we need to be educated on that and show them so that we know how to best recommend for them." VARIOUS OF GAZZOLA DISPLAYING HIP BAG HOLSTER VARIOUS OF GAZZOLA DISPLAYING A CONCEALMENT T-SHIRT
  • Embargoed: 21st October 2016 20:15
  • Keywords: guns firearm clothing fashion women concealed carry
  • Location: GHENT + HUDSON, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • City: GHENT + HUDSON, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA00252VBWIH
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: For years, women who carried guns endured bulky, rigid, uncomfortable, hip gun holsters made for men. But over the past few years, the growth of women owning firearms has triggered a change in fashion.
    According to a 2011 Gallup poll, 23 percent of U.S. women personally own a gun, compared to 13 percent in 2005.
    Also, according to the Crime Prevention Research Center, since President Barack Obama's election, the number of concealed handgun permits has grown from 4.6 million in 2007 to 12.8 million in 2015.
    As more women enter the gun market, the male-dominated industry is changing to meet the needs of women gun owners.
    Four years ago, gun owner Patricia Cutler, created the Women's Concealed Carry Fashion Show after having a difficult time finding a comfortable way to carry her gun.
    "In 2012, I became very interested in carrying my firearm and had a difficult time finding a holster in the gun stores. So we grouped together with a bunch of friends and we were going to have nacho night at my house and put our rigs on and try to figure out how to wear them. And the interest grew so much that we decided to do it at the gun club."
    The interest led to the first Women's Concealed Carry Fashion Show. Two hundred fifty people attended the event in upstate New York.
    Two years later in 2014, Cutler said more than 600 people attended the fashion show. But Cutler said the fashion shows are about more than cute clothing.
    "The fashion show has got a lot of different aspects - carrying different places on your body. There are a lot of safety issues with that too."
    Cutler said the fashion shows are also a female-friendly way to educate women about gun safety and the legal issues regarding gun ownership.
    Nadine Gazzola, the co-owner of a gun store in New York, explained why women want different gun holsters than those made for men.
    "Predominately, they are made by men and therefore, they make what's comfortable for them. Women have a different body type. We have more curves. We have just a different shape than men, so they need to fit more comfortable for a woman's body. So there has been more of a rise in making things that are more comfortable for a woman's body."
    Manufactures are taking notice. Over the past few years, more firearm products are targeting women.
    Products include hip belt holsters that stretch, garter holsters, T-shirts with gun pockets and hip and shoulder bags with pockets for a pistol. Many products are made to accommodate different sized guns.
    "There's a high rise of women, even women designing holsters for women. So they've realized that it's a niche market," said Gazzola.
    Accessory designer Femme Fatale Holsters advertises itself as a business by women for women.
    So long "camo and ammo". Hello feminine and fabulous.
    In the U.S., the gun ownership and concealed carry laws vary from state to state.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register