Dappled Grey just returned from our first trip to the American Equestrian Trade Association’s winter trade show. Yes, we were like a kid in a candy shop… “research” has never been quite so fun!
Seriously, the AETA show was great way for us to talk directly with the brands our readers love (and some you may have not yet heard of) and see/feel/covet many never-seen-before items. Over 240 exhibitors were on hand to present their products and take orders from tack stores nationwide.
You’re certain to see some of our favorite finds in the upcoming pages of the blog and our Weekly Guide. In the meantime, notable trends we saw included:
- more adorable denim breeches
- high-performance fabrics that transform traditional riding wear into functional athletic wear
- a little hippie tye-dye
- a few rock n’ roll skulls and crossbones
- lots of luxury textures – think embossed leathers, Swarovski crystals, and “alcantara,” a performance fabric used in the interior upholstery of Ferrari cars
- traditional tack items (ie. stirrups, spurs) with an innovative twist
