Gloves...They're Not Just For Winter Anymore

This year, GlovecrazY had the opportunity to interview D.C. suburbanite, Maritza Matheus-Sobolewski, to discuss her glove wearing habits. As we quickly discovered, like Venezuela meeting Poland, in the Matheus-Sobolewski household, winter and summer meet equally for glove use. Here are the highlights from that interview:

 
GcrazY: So, Maritza, I know you're a long time winter glove wearer.

MM-S: Yes, when I first encountered GlovecrazY back in the late '90s, I was already an avid glove fan.

GcrazY: Tell us your earliest glove memory.

MM-S: Well, G, I'd have to say it was in grammar school...no! No! Wait. We were living in New York; I was about five years old. I remember sashaying down Fifth Avenue and I had one of those muffler things over my hands. [laughs]

GcrazY: An approved anti-crack device! So, when did your interests extend beyond the published glove season, that is, October 1 - March 31?

MM-S: Ahhh...it must have been sometime in my twenties. I realized that a woman's true age is reflected in her hands. And keeping our hands protected -- soft, nice -- that's a year-round effort.

GcrazY: So what does that entail for you? I've SEEN the driving gloves.

MM-S: [laughs] Yes, driving gloves. Dishwashing gloves. Housecleaning gloves. Wherever my hands are exposed to a damaging environment.

GcrazY: How many pairs of gloves do you recommend people own?

MM-S: I guess it depends on their activities. You need skiing gloves if you ski. If you hang out with kids playing, you need something else, something like suede with reinforcements. This gives you the durability. Then for dressy-up winter events, I wear my leather gloves. And, as I mentioned, a pair or two for dishes, housecleaning, etc.

GcrazY: Sounds like you have taken the GlovecrazY message to heart.

MM-S: And driving…don’t forget the driving! People underestimate the sun in the winter. Gloves and sunglasses are very needed. There’s a misperception that the sun won’t do damage in the winter!

GcrazY: Excellent! And speaking of winter, have you ever HAD a crack?

MM-S: I have actually. Not due to cold weather, but my skin is very sensitive. If I wash dishes and don’t wear gloves, my thumb and forefingers start cracking.

GcrazY: Anything else you'd like to share with our readers before we say goodbye?

MM-S: Hmmm...I guess just this. In conjunction with good glove habits, lotion is important for your hands...and your body. Soaps are very drying. Body and hand crèmes are the best for the most moisturizing. I personally admire hands. I encourage my husband to use lotion. [sighs] But he doesn’t follow through. 

GcrazY: Thank you for sharing your glove insights with so many people around the globe today, Maritza.

MM-S: Thank you, Gregorio.