Than’s Story

Than was one of the first refugees working in the studio. She came from Myanmar to Kansas City three years ago and Madison Flitch was her first job. She cut the fabric during the day, and then asked to make masks at home to earn a little extra. She would come back the next morning with 50-60 masks in hand. She did this every day. She worked constantly.

She spoke English surprisingly well, and used it to make snarky comments. On our extra large masks: “No one has face so big! You (Americans) eat too much pizza.” Whenever I came to talk: “Don’t stand so close! You get me the virus.” Whenever I asked her to do something: “Why you ask if it’s ok? You’re the bossman.” We became fast friends.

She was fascinated by the extra large face masks. She would take the parts home and show all her friends the “bigface” masks Americans were buying. They were the only size she wanted to make—if you have one, chances are she made it.

One day, she didn’t come to work. Her grandmother approached and told me, somberly, she was sick. I panicked, thinking of COVID. “Does she have the virus?” I asked. “No,” her grandmother said, “She is pregnant.”

She chose to stay home after her “diagnosis”, and so I lost the daily conversations with my friend. But she still made masks here and there, and, when we started making bags, she started sending prototypes to the studio for us to review. I never asked her to make one, due to her “sickness”, but she didn’t want to be left out of the fun.

She made us a simple hobo bag style that we realized would look great made from one of our bomber style leathers. It looks amazing tucked inside out too. So, thanks Than for the design help. Of course, I’m sure she’d say “Why you say thanks? You’re the bossman. I just do my job.”