EUROPEAN FASHION TRENDS

The ultra-modern halls of the Cologne, Germany, exhibition center in early September could be considered nirvana for someone who loves to shop. But this shoppers’ paradise isn’t open to the general public. SPOGA Cologne is an annual trade fair for the international garden and leisure sector where the business side of the equestrian trade gathers. Store buyers distributors, agents and manufacturers from across Europe, North America and the Middle East ogle the latest items and gather at the cafés and on couches scattered through exhibition halls to make deals. At the 2007 SPOGA, 409 supplier companies from dozens of countries set up booths. While SPOGA is largely for the European market, some North American companies exhibit at SPOGA, either alone or as part of a larger European distribution company.

The mainstream fashion business has two seasons—fall/winter and spring/summer—and the equestrian industry follows the same calendar. Thus, the items on display in Cologne in September 2007 will appear in retail stores in spring 2008. New colors include sky blues, greens with a hint of yellow, a few pastels and rich reds. Breeches now come in bright greens, purples, reds and non-basic browns with names like cactus, plum, rose and hazelnut. Let’s not forget patterns. Plaid breeches made a debut a decade or more ago, but the patterns (for the most part) were understated. Not so for 2008. Two-tone breeches have also been around for a while but, at the 2007 SPOGA, versions included flattering leg stripes to offset the main color, a broad white stripe down the outside of the leg or a slim pipe of contrast on the outer seam. Bolder contrasting combinations include blue breeches with a brown full seat, purple with a blue full seat or even brown with a grey full seat. The combinations give fashion-savvy riders plenty of opportunities to match their clothes, saddle pads, even their brow bands, bandages, socks and boot bags. Bling is moving from brow bands and belts to show coat collars and saddles.

Another apparel trend, which began last year but is still “in” and seemingly gaining momentum is stretchy riding jeans. This year, nearly every major European apparel maker is showing a jean-breech or jean-jodphur. Today’s riding jeans have detailed stitching and accents that go from saddle to street.

Today’s equestrian fabrics, like those in other sports, include microfibers with wind-resistance, cooling properties and moisture wicking. MacWet, a name that might be familiar to diving enthusiasts, has launched a durable all-weather equestrian glove that has an outer layer of wetsuit material. Nanotechnology—the arrangement of molecules for a certain purpose—has appeared on breeches in the form of a stain repellent product that can withstand even coffee. Outer shell jackets that repel dirt and moisture, made of nanofibers, are the newest products manufacturers are pitching to the riding set, along with fabrics containing sun block or bug repellent that are also anti-bacterial and odor resistant. The materials are often made from natural fibers coated with inner and outer layers of polypropylene or a microporous membrane laminated between two fleece fabrics. A Swiss fabric developer, has created a fabric that is stain-resistant, stretchy and lightweight, and a “fashion” coat made of it will soon be available. It has a cut back collar design to add flair but is a conservative solid black.