Warrior Women

By TINA WILSON

I remember the first time I entered Paragon Sporting Goods, the iconic purveyor all things athletic and adventurous.  I came to NYC very young, to go to Parsons School of Design. NYC was raw and creative, it was filthy, even a bit dangerous and I lived on Union Square a block from Paragon.  It was heaven and I want to go back in time, I miss it terribly.   We were “warriors”, my roommates and I and I am happy to say we all survived the mean streets, the early morning club hopping, the all night binges on whatever and the dating scene. So a few weeks ago when I entered the store for the first time in ages, a million memories flooded my senses.  Memories of looking for snow pants in preparation for my first and only ski trip.  Memories of buying sneakers because Paragon was one of the few places you could find an eclectic selection and memories of trying on parkas just for the hell of it.

I was excited at the invitation to Paragon to meet Christina Hammer for an event sponsored by Anita, the German family owned heritage brand of intimate apparel and swim.  Lady Hammer is a World Champion Boxer and the Anita Active Global Ambassador.  As we approached we saw she was surrounded by fans.  We waited our turn to speak to her and she was lovely, smart, fierce in a good way, beautiful and determined.  We discussed her goals and her life after boxing, she had it all planned. She is a real life warrior and she had the belts to prove it.  We asked to see them and she picked them both up and held them with pride, it was very cool.  She also showed us her gloves and I became enamored with those as well. I thought about all the boxing movies I’d seen and how there is always that scene where the trainer helps put on the gloves after wrapping the hands and laces them up, it’s a very sexy thing.

The bras on display were equally cool.  The colors, design and the impeccable construction made me want them all.  I’d be lying if I said I was a hard core athlete who needs active support, I’m not but I do love good design and COMFORT! I feel empowered in a good sports bra, I think all women do, it’s the base layer of our armor. It is no wonder that Anita is considered by stores across the US as their #1 sports bra brand, and it is befitting an athlete like Christina Hammer to wear them in her quests for victory.

As we were leaving the store, we decided to browse, and upon leaving I spotted a t-shirt that summed it all up…the movement that is taking hold of this country now, the power of women, the power of men who champion those women and what we must all be in order to take us forward and resist the hate.  Be well, be strong and be a peaceful warrior!