G Line: Gear for Girls
Sarah Schilke, global category manager for G Line, a line of motorcycle gear made for women, said that in the more than 10 years she has worked in the motorcycle industry, the No. 1 complaint she has heard from fellow women riders is that there is a lack of properly fitting and fashionable motorcycle gear.
In response to the increasing number of female motorcycle riders, Elizabeth Rakestraw, senior vice president and general manager of Tustin, Calif.–based Fairchild Sports, decided to launch G Line, a collection of motorcycle jackets, pants and armors designed for women riders by women riders.
“A lot of women’s apparel is either meant to match a guy’s jacket or it’s a womanized version of a jacket designed for men. These are all unique to women,” Rakestraw said, adding that G Line is sized from 4 to 16—as opposed to small, medium and large—giving a more precise and comfortable fit.
According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, the number of female motorcycle owners increased 36 percent from 1998 to 2003 (the latest available figures), and nearly one out of 10 motorcycle owners is a woman. Rakestraw said that the market is probably even larger, since not all women are registered and female passengers are not accounted for.
“The women on the back of the bike need to understand that they need to be as safe as the man who’s on the front of the bike that they’re riding on,” Rakestraw said. “As we looked at the market, that was an issue we wanted to address as well.”
Schilke said that many motorcycle dealers who sell gear are men who don’t recognize women riders as consumers. Some dealers have been hesitant to buy G Line. So the line brought the product directly to women by hosting trunk shows at dealerships and other venues around the country. G Line also has sponsored motorcycling events, such as the annual Harley Davidson of Glendale Presents Love Ride. And the company held a fashion show during Femmoto, an event, held last year in Las Vegas, during which a race course is reserved for women only.
“As much as motorcycling is an escape and independent [sport], it’s also a social club for women. It’s a social outlet for women to meet other women who are also somewhat independent and empowered through it,” said Schilke, who has been riding motorcycles for 13 years.
According to Rakestraw, G Line’s apparel is on the premium side of the market, retailing for $239–$499, and features high standards for tear resistance and a less bulky shape. Fabrications of the line include cow leather, goat leather, lamb leather appliqueacute;s and water-resistant coated nylon.
For more information, call (714) 258-2120 or visit www.g-line-store.com.—Rhea Cortado
