Nancy Gold, owner of Ardmore’s King’s Collar Shirtmakers, has been making custom shirts for decades but had to fight hard for her spot in the male dominated industry, writes Diane Mastrull for Philly.com.

When she was starting out in the sixties, Gold had an abundance of skill, but she was the wrong gender for her chosen profession.

“No women were in the industry,” she said.

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But Gold grabbed the first opportunity that came her way, getting a job at The Custom Shop in New York and seven years later became store manager.

But gender discrimination was still prevalent and she was fired for refusing to take a demotion so a man could take her position. Undeterred, Gold started her own business and became probably the nation’s first female custom shirtmaker.

Over the next four decades, Gold gained many prominent clients including Yankees owner, George Steinbrenner. She has also published a book, Shirt Tales: The Stories Behind a Successful Start-up, hoping to inspire other women.

“Everything in life that happens is a gift or a lesson,” she said.

Read more about Gold’s rich career at Philly.com by clicking here.

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