Dresses From the Sky Parachutes Turned Into Wedding Gowns
Most wedding dresses come from boutiques or family closets. But in the 1940s, some came from the sky. During and after World War II, brides across the U.S. and parts of Europe walked down the aisle in gowns made from parachutes. Equal parts scarcity and sentiment contributed to the development of this tradition. At the time, budgets were tight. Brides-to-be faced fabric rationing, and the military got most of the nylon. A parachute offered yards of strong, clean material, making it valuable. But for some couples, the biggest draw wasn’t the fabric. It was the story tied to it. One of the most famous examples is that of Major Claude Hensinger, who was forced to parachute out of a burning bomber. The chute delivered him safely to the ground and served as his bedding while he waited for rescue. He proposed to his girlfriend, Ruth, after returning home and suggested she use that same parachute for her gown. She hired a seamstress to construct the bodice and gathered the skirt herself using parachute cords. The finished dress, inspired by one from “Gone With the Wind,” now sits in the Smithsonian. Another bride, Carolyn Martin, made her own parachute dress after her fiancé, Chuck, survived a training flight crash. Carolyn transformed his parachute into a wedding dress using the sewing skills she had picked up in eighth grade. It is now part of the San Diego Air and Space Museum’s collection. A far
more elaborate dress is stored at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. It originally belonged to an Air Force family and was pieced together from nine parachutes used in combat. One of the most meaningful parachute dresses, though, came from a displaced persons camp in Germany. Two Holocaust survivors, Ludwig Friedman and Lilly Lax, married at the camp in 1946. To make the wedding dress, Ludwig bought a parachute from Allied troops, and Lilly
hired a seamstress using cigarette rations. Two more brides at other camps borrowed their dress before it was preserved at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Parachute nylon was never meant to be heirloom fabric. But during a time of shortages and uncertainty, that’s what it became.
INTRODUCING ATTORNEY SCARLETTE KELTY New Space, New Faces
2025 brought a lot of newness to Emery Law Office. Not only did we move to a new space, but we also added many new team members. Over the next few newsletters, I’ll be using this space
was born and raised in Louisville, even attending college and law school at the University of Louisville. She didn’t grow up in a family that was heavily involved in the legal profession. Instead,
in Kentucky. She handled cases involving everything from car wrecks and slips and falls to nursing home abuse. Scarlette has continued to grow her skills and cement herself as a leader in the legal community through her efforts with the Kentucky Justice Association. She has traveled across the state, helping countless Kentuckians with their legal problems. Outside of work, Scarlette loves spending time with her husband and daughter, who recently joined the Girl Scouts. She also has two cats, Sundae and Sophie, whom she rescued. Most nights, you can find Scarlette reading or making crafts. We’re so glad to have Scarlette on our team and look forward to seeing how she continues to go above and beyond for her clients. When you work with Scarlette, you can rest assured knowing you’re in the best hands!
to introduce you to our newest faces. If you’ve
she was a first-generation college student who got most of her exposure to the legal world through the Harlan Scholar Program, an undergraduate honor society that helped those interested in a law career explore the field. She started working as a runner at a law firm when she was 19, and the rest is history.
been in our office sometime during the last few months, you may have already met some of them! One individual who has already greatly impressed us with her expertise, knowledge, and determination to help our community is Scarlette Kelty, one of our attorneys. Scarlette joined our team this past September, but she came to us with a wealth of experience. She
Upon graduating from law school, Scarlette
immediately began working as a personal injury lawyer
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