Today it’s not unusual for a celebrity to launch a clothing line. Everyone from Michael Strahan to Rachael Ray has designed or endorsed apparel, including a number of high-profile athletes. They owe some debt of gratitude to pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart, who was one of the first notable figures to dabble in fashion design. Fashion at 40,000 feet As the first woman to fly both solo and nonstop across the Atlantic, Earhart had a spectacular career as a pilot. But those achievements didn’t necessarily come with financial benefits. For that, Earhart turned to what was then a novel business venture—a branded fashion offering. Earhart had gotten advice on the business…