—an airline pilot who probably should’ve been an artist. ✈️🎨

I’ve spent 30 years in aviation, but my story with garment manufacturing actually started before I ever learned to fly.

My first job, at 14, was at a garment manufacturer in Spokane, Washington, where my mom was the office manager. I did a little bit of everything—from the cutting room to shipping—and I loved watching a big operation run smoothly.

Looking back, maybe that’s part of what eventually drew me to professional aviation, too. There’s something incredibly satisfying about a whole lot of moving parts coming together to make something work.

Fast-forward a few decades...

I started learning surface pattern design, creating digital artwork in Adobe Illustrator and having my designs printed on products. I loved seeing something that existed in my imagination become something I could actually hold.

Driving home from a flying trip at about 1 a.m. one night, it suddenly occurred to me:

Wait a minute. I know how to manufacture garments. 🤦🏼‍♀️

Not long after that, I stumbled across an old journal from 2019. In it, I had written about wanting to own an industrial flatseamer sewing machine someday.

Apparently Past Deon knew what she was doing.

So I decided to invest in myself. I bought the machine and then another one and another one. Now I own my own mini factory.

And High Altitude Armor was born.

Today, I combine my aviation experience, original surface-pattern designs and garment-manufacturing background to create wearable aviation art—starting with UPF 50+ sleeves designed for the people who spend their lives in the sky.

I didn't wait until I had investors, a giant business plan, a staff, or every answer figured out.

I'm building this business scrappy style.

Make something I love.
Share it with people.
Listen to what they say.
Make it better.
Repeat.

That is one of my favorite parts of this whole adventure.

I'm always open to ideas. If there's an airplane, aviation story, color combination, or completely crazy idea you'd love to see turned into wearable art, please send it my way. 🤩

Thank you for your patronage, your encouragement, your ideas, and for supporting this little pilot-built manufacturing business.

Pilot to pilot,

Deon Mayer
Founder & Artist
High Altitude Armor