Candy and Ronnie Whitehurst, co-owners of the Pensacola sewing shop "The Sewing Box," appeared on CNN to discuss the U.S. Navy's decision to end their nearly 50-year run outfitting the Blue Angels in favor of a new, higher-valued contract with another supplier.
US Navy Ends 43-Year Blue Angels Uniform Deal With Local Business | New $1.69M Contract
U.S. Navy recently decided to end its 43-year partnership with The Sewing Box, a local Pensacola, Florida tailor shop that hand-crafted the iconic blue-and-yellow ceremonial flight suits for the Blue Angels. Instead, the Navy awarded a new five-year contract worth up to $1.69 million to Aquila International LLC, a defense contractor based in Virginia.
The Longtime Supplier: The Sewing Box, a small, Black-owned business run by Candy Whitehurst, had been measuring, cutting, and stitching thousands of custom ensembles for the team since the 1970s.
The New Contractor: Aquila International LLC is a larger federal contractor that has previously supplied the Blue Angels with other equipment like flight gloves and compression garments since 2024.
Navy's Rationale: According to a report by Military.com, the Navy previously cited barriers to open competition—such as proprietary patterns and local availability requirements—before resolving those concerns and opting for an unrestricted procurement process. Navy representatives stated that both technical factors and cost were evaluated to ensure the best overall value for the fleet.
Impact and Public BacklashThe decision sparked significant local and online criticism. Whitehurst expressed heartbreak over the sudden change, noting that she had historically been paid far less than the value of the new contract and had faced past invoicing difficulties with the government.
While Aquila International plans to maintain domestic manufacturing for all threads and materials across multiple U.S. locations, it has the option to use subcontractors. The procurement contract allows local shops like The Sewing Box to apply as a subcontractor for local alterations and repairs, though no formal agreements have been finalized.
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