Stalking victim designs clothing for women who are ready to fight back

Shooting Industry, May, 1994 by Lisa Parsons

Women who endure a terrifying experience often undergo a life change. The strong ones choose never to be victims again and go to great lengths to protect themselves and their loved ones. For Linda Mutchnick, a potentially devastating event turned into an enduring interest in firearms and sparked an entrepreneurial spirit that led to the birth of a growing catalog business.

Over 10 years ago, Linda Mutchnick was stalked by an unknown man. He knew where she worked, had access to her building and private phone number. He also knew when she was alone. Refusing to be a victim, Linda purchased a firearm and took a basic NRA firearm course. She admits to having had a fear of firearms that quickly turned into respect and enjoyment. "People would say to me, 'You don't look like the type to have a gun'" says Linda. "My response was, 'What are you supposed to look like when you choose not to be a victim?'"

This no nonsense attitude spurred Linda to take many firearms courses and eventually become an NRA-certified instructor. She admits, however, that instructing wasn't really part of the plan. "After my first basic course, I could never have imagined myself with nine first-time shooters on the line and me behind them as their instructor," she said. Her original plan was simply to defend herself, but as she learned more about firearms, she found herself enjoying shooting more and more. "It was a great outlet for stress," she says with a laugh. "I felt that it was something necessary -- that I owed it to myself, and everyone else, to be the best I possibly could as a responsible firearm owner."

Nothing To Wear

Her determination to be self-reliant created a painful problem for Linda, whose career as a litigation specialist requires her to wear business suits. After applying for and receiving her carry permit, she wanted to make sure her gun was always available and began exploring carry options. What followed were 10 years of suffering and self-mutilation, says Linda. "I tried every means of carry available," she explains. "I have a box in my garage full of holsters, $1,000 worth, that didn't work."

Linda quickly discovered that off-the-rack business suits were not cut to accommodate the bulk of a gun. Trying to carry a gun under a regular business suit was painful, caused unsightly bulges or made the clothing impossible to close. Early on in her search, she came to the conclusion that a purse holster wasn't a practical solution for keeping her gun nearby at all times.

She finally decided the only way she ever would be comfortable was to make her own clothes. Having only basic sewing skills, she set out to find a designer, which was a challenge in itself. "I met with a great deal of unpleasantness when I would interview designers and seamstresses at the onset, because as soon as the word 'gun' was mentioned, many were not interested in the position," Linda says.

A Clothes Line

Eventually, she found a designer, and PistolERA was born. The line of firearm friendly clothing consists of jackets, vests, skirts, slacks and shorts. Each jacket and vest will accommodate shoulder holsters, strongside (belt-slide) holsters or in-the-waist carry. In addition, these garments will adapt to the individual, regardless of whether she is wearing a firearm or not. Every item is custom made for the purchaser and her firearm. Information about the firearm's size is very important as it determines the gauge of interfacing and elastic used to retain the shape of the garments and maintain comfort level.

Input from customers is encouraged and they can change the look of a jacket by either adding collars, cuffs, embellishments, lengthening the skirt, repositioning zippers or color-blocking. The blouson jacket can be made completely reversible allowing the wearer to access her gun without utilization of the zipper. The other jackets in the line are crafted with quick release zippers -- large-toothed, plastic zippers set far from the fabric so they don't catch in the material. Unique inserts sewn into the waistbands of PistolERA garments accommodate the weight of most handguns, permitting comfortable carry that won't drag down clothing.

Allowing customers to create their own look stretches the parameters of the original designs and gives them all the benefits of custom tailoring.

Linda and her designer's ideas have been well received by civilians and law enforcement. She has been contacted by an intermediary for the Royal Family because, for the first time in England's history, they now have female body guards. Linda has also worked with government personnel in the United States.

Her client list is confidential and she has developed not only a good reputation for crafting quality garments, but also the trust of her customers.

Catalog Cost Cutter

PistolERA is a mail order company and Linda recommends beginning any similar business the same way. Her start-up costs were more than anticipated and not having a retail outlet allowed her to put more money into design. A catalog business was also a necessity for the kind of clothes Linda sells, because they are all custom and require the purchasers' exact measurements. "I want to keep the business small," says Linda. "I need to keep control of the quality of my products."