Emma Sharp, born in 1832, was an athlete made famous for being the first woman to intentionally complete a 1000 mile walk in 1000 hours, a feat known as Pedestrianism. Even more compelling was the attire she adorned herself in for the challenge, a men's suit with a "feminine" straw hat.
Apparently the event was so heavily wagered upon, and the concept of a woman participating in such an sport was so unheard of at the time, that Sharp was endangered many times during the walk. As people tried to trip her, or poison her food in an attempt to stop her from finishing, Sharp carried a pistol with her to protect herself.
Here at H+H we're inspired not only by her gumption, but also the risks she took sartorially in the conservative time and place she lived!
