Start An Equestrian Brand
How To Start An Equestrian Brand.
If you have been dreaming of starting an equestrian clothing line in the UK, but have no fashion experience, not sure how to start, or where to go for advice or small order manufacture, then you have come to the right place.
EMAIL [email protected]
Design Your Own Equestrian Clothing.
You do not need any previous fashion experience to start an equestrian brand – Even if you cant draw your design ideas. We can guide you every step of the way.
We can provide you with all the expertise, help and advice necessary to set up and run your new custom made equine clothing brand.
We are a small group of clothing industry experts, based in London and around the UK. We are here to help fashion startups get started. We can help you every step of the way, from design concept to final production runs, and beyond.
Our sportswear and equestrian apparel experts are here to help with their specialist knowledge and skills. We can either do everything for you, or teach you the skills so that you can do it yourself on a budget.
All you need in order to start an equestrian brand are your ideas, a little determination, and some expert help. We can provide as much, or as little of that help as you need.
Online Video Course.
We have created an online video course for anyone interested in how to start a fashion brand in the UK. The course consists of nineteen chapters. It is available to download to study from home in your own time. Just email for details.
This online video course was created by senior fashion business adviser, designer, and entrepreneur, Emile Vidal Carr. He has over twenty years experience in the fashion industry, running his own businesses and helping UK startups. He is also author of The Fashion Formula.
How Much Does The Video Course Cost ?
The online video course on how to start a fashion brand costs £200 for all nineteen chapters. Or less than half price using the code LPC 24 – Just £99 for all nineteen chapters.
Startup Workshop.
We highly recommend our startup workshops. This one to one workshop is essential for anyone interested in starting a clothing business, but will be tailored specifically to your equestrian business.
One Hour Startup Consultation.
If you would like a consultation with one of our experienced clothing business experts please email for an appointment, or for more information. The cost for a one hour consultation with our junior adviser is £45. Our senior clothing business adviser is £80 for an hour.
Our junior advisers have over ten years experience in the fashion business, while our senior advisers have over fifteen years experience. Please let us know what areas you are interested in – Sportswear, lingerie, swimwear, equestrian wear, streetwear, tailoring, couture, etc.
The Concept.
The first part of the process of creating your new brand is to decide what type of clothing you want to make, and what market you are aiming for. Your designs and pricing need to reflect this market.
A Mood Board.
Creating a mood board is a great way to bring together all your ideas and sources of inspiration. You can collect different images, fabrics, colours, and anything else that you consider relevant to your new brand.
Reference Garments.
Whatever market you are aiming for, it is advisable to find some good reference garments, from reputable equestrian brands, to aid you in your own designs.
As horse riding clothing needs to be functional, fashionable, and comfortable, it is very important to start with the best garment shapes possible.
Established specialist brands will have developed good basic shapes and fits over the years, along with good construction methods that you can be guided by.
Although equestrian clothing should be your main source for reference garments for fit, you can get ideas from all types of garments. Sometimes closely related sports may provide good references if they need to solve similar problems.
Because riding gear needs to be functional, the shape and fit is really important. So, using reference garments made by well known equestrian brands within the horse riding world is the best way to start.
Equestrian wear has to fit in a way that allows for free functional movement, but also looks fashionable and stylish. Horse riding Jodhpurs have to fit perfectly and look and feel good while riding, and while walking.
Once you have found the perfect jodhpur shape you can use that same shape to create multiple styles in different fabrics. You may need one shape for stretch fabrics, and another shape for woven fabrics.
You may also want to use non specialist clothing for reference if you feel that they will be useful for creating your equestrian collection. The importance is having a good starting point that will save you time and money.
If you do not start with something that has the right size and shape, it will take you an excessive amount of time and money to develop your own designs.
EMAIL [email protected]
Your Design.
Equestrian wear, or horse riding clothing, above all has to be functional and comfortable. In order to design clothing for horse riding today, riding gear needs to be stylish as well as functional. And sometimes even fashionable.
We can help you with every stage of bringing your designs to life. Just bring us your ideas and we will do the rest. And we can produce your designs in very small quantities, with no MOQ.
Technical Drawing.
In order for the pattern cutter to interpret your designs as you meant them to be, you will need to provide a technical drawing. This is an accurate, non stylised sketch of your design that includes necessary measurements and notes.
Most people today use Adobe Illustrator, or a similar computer programme, but there is no reason why you cant provide hand sketches, as long as they are clear.
If you need a hand, then we can do the sketches and technical drawings for you, or teach you how to do it yourself. We run a two hour workshop on how to use Adobe Illustrator.
Tech Pack.
The tech pack is the blueprint for your design. In order for the factory to interpret your designs as you intend. Your factory may insist on a tech pack before making your designs.
Whether you are manufacturing in the UK, or abroad, it is important to produce a tech pack. Because equestrian garments are technical garments rather than basic fashion, they need to be produced to an exacting standard.
One-Stop-Shop.
We normally suggest using a one-stop-shop factory specialist for equestrian wear, because it can be difficult to find suitably experienced freelance pattern cutters and sample makers with an understanding of equestrian wear, and with specialist machinery. Our equestrian factory is based in London.
Fabric Sourcing.
Fabric and trim sourcing can be very time consuming. Our experts should be able to assist you with finding the right fabrics for your designs. We provide a fabric and trim sourcing service, if you would like us to do it for you.
Its up to you whether fabric sourcing or design come first, but it can take some time for fabrics to be delivered. It is sometimes best to “toile” (mock-up) your designs before sampling, as long as the toile fabric has similar properties to the final fabric.
Pattern Cutting.
The pattern cutter will need to cut a pattern for each of your designs. If you are using a one-stop-shop factory, they should have their own pattern cutters, experienced in cutting equestrian wear.
The Sample.
It is important for any startup clothing brand on a limited budget, to try to ensure that the sample maker has as much accurate information as possible. If you have to keep remaking samples the costs can add up as you will have to pay for each sample. Ideally you want to get it right first time.
If your sample maker is not the same as your factory, then the factory will have to make their own sample.
Grading.
Once the sample has been approved, the final pattern would have to be made and then graded in to different sizes. You will need to have an idea of how many sizes you want, and what gap there should be between each size. An experienced pattern grader should be able to advise you on this.
How To Design Your Own Equestrian Clothing.
Equestrian wear, above all has to be both functional and comfortable. In order to design clothing for horse riding today, riding gear needs to be stylish and fashionable as well as functional.
If you would like some help or advice in designing or creating patterns for your collection, we run a number of one-to-one classes and workshops to help and guide you.
Using Reference Garments.
Because riding waer needs to be functional, the shape and fit is vitally important. Using reference garments made by well known equestrian brands within the horse riding world is the best way to start.
Equestrian wear has to fit in a way that allows for free functional movement, but also looks fashionable and stylish. Horse riding Jodhpurs have to fit perfectly and look and feel good while riding, and while walking.
Once you have found the perfect jodhpur shape you can use that same shape to create multiple styles in different fabrics. You may need one shape for stretch fabrics, and another shape for woven fabrics.
You may also want to use non specialist clothing for reference if you feel that they will be useful for creating your equestrian collection. The importance is having a good starting point that will save you time and money.
If you do not start with something that has the right size and shape, it will take you an excessive amount of time and money to develop your own designs.
Other Sources Of Inspiration.
As well as reference garments, it is useful to keep other sources of inspiration, such as images, colours, fabrics, and textures. If you are not a professional designer, you would be advised to bring all your reference garments and sources for inspiration to a professional designer – Preferably someone who is experienced in sportswear and functional wear.
EMAIL [email protected]