Why jump out of a perfectly good airplane?

“It’s not about how well you fall, but how well you land.”

That’s what paratroopers say. The act of free-falling becomes a symbol—for risk, resilience, and grace.

There’s something beautifully contradictory about parachute fabric. Light as air, yet designed to carry a human (and sometimes a dog) safely to earth. A material meant to hold, protect, offer a second chance.

Image Credits

This story is woven in both word and image. Visual collaborators featured in the full Substack story include:

• “Parachute Desert” – White skirt named Amelia in desert landscape. Photo of Amy Rose by Chika Okazazumi
• “To Hold, To Protect” – Jillian Sage in the Olivia Maxi and Elinor Jacket. Photo by Udo Spreitzenbarth
• “Tommy’s Jump” – One-of-a-kind coat from olive parachute. Photo of Tommy Maksanty by Udo Spreitzenbarth
• “Citrus Descent” – Vietnam-era parachute in citrus orange. Photo of Michaela Jill Murphy by Neysa West
• “Sunflower Camouflage” – Elle Alexiss in the Amy Drawstring Maxi. Photo by Josh Rose
• “Sky Brides” – Wedding dress at ocean edge. Photo of Arlondriah Lenyea by Raelyn Elizabeth
• “Underwater Grace” – Parachute gown submerged. Photo of Linnea Snyderman by Cheryl Walsh
• “Burning Man Wedding” – Amelia skirt worn by Alden Wicker at Burning Man
• “Pink Signal” – Hanna skirt from pink parachute. Photo of Sara Kathryn
• “Steel Grace” – Carey Lohrenz in Olivia Maxi. US Navy’s first female F-14 pilot
• “Poetry & Pitchforks” – Tamela D’Amico in Amelia skirt. Photo by John Semper Jr.
• “Desert Sunset” – Deborah and Brooklyn Wilde at Artist Palette, Death Valley. Photo by Jenn Spain

See all images and read the full story:
🪂 Free Fall – The Parachute Collection on Substack

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