TIME
In the Southwest Pacific, U.S. Seabees, who boast that they can repair anything from a watch to a battleship, turned to another activity in their spare time. A Navy officer reported they were making grass skirts and selling them to the natives. Reason for the market: the Seabees’ skirt is better than the native product.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- The Reinvention of J.D. Vance
- Iran, Trump, and the Third Assassination Plot
- Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
- Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
- 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
- The Ordained Rabbi Who Bought a Porn Company
- Introducing the Democracy Defenders
- Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
Contact us at letters@time.com