Irish Hunter is a hot new equestrian brand that has quickly caught the attention of many horse publications and fashionable horse lovers. Irish Hunter currently offers high quality t-shirts with bold equestrian themed designs that can transition easily from barn wear to a night out.
UK Show Jumper
"Riding is a Grand Passion!"
I interviewed founder, Kate Harvey, to gain some insight into her inspiration and goals for this wonderful new company:
Founder Kate Harvey exhibiting Irish Hunter at the Western States Horse Expo.
What inspired you to create your own clothing line?
"Ever since I can remember (like before 4 years of age) I have LOVED horses and everything about them and despite not coming from an equestrian family I still managed to start riding at the age of 5. As a youngster horses were my first love and true passion and I was lucky enough to have had opportunities to spend countless hours riding, caring for, eventually training and even showing horses.
As I got older and in to high school I had decided that someday I wanted to be an entrepreneur but at that time I had no clue as to how to begin, no successful mentors in my life to help guide me, nor the confidence to take the first step. So, I decided to change all that and start a path towards success. I went to college and studied Animal Science at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo and after graduation began working to gain business experience.
Eventually I got a job with Cargill, a multinational Ag Corporation who is also the largest privately held corporation in the US. While there I worked hard to learn everything I could about managing a successful business. It was challenging but very rewarding for I had finally gained the knowledge and skills I needed to be confident enough to start a business. I thought long and hard and wanted to do something within the equestrian industry. Like all women I love clothes and I had noticed that there wasn't much in the way of chic, casual equestrian clothing so the idea of Irish Hunter T-shirt Co. was born. I combined my love of horses with a love for fashion in to one cute little start up to bring casual clothing that was actually stylish, feminine and flattering to the equestrian market."
The Monarch
"His neigh is like the Bidding of a Monarch and his Countenance enforces Homage."
When did you start your business and what made you choose t-shirts as your first product line?
"Irish Hunter officially opened for business on April 18, 2012. I chose T-shirt for several reasons. First, I love tees for their versatility in colors, cuts and ability to display eye catching and artistic graphics which can be so much more fun than a plain shirt or blouse, plus they are a comfortable break from a stiff office wardrobe. Growing up on the unique CA Central Coast I was influenced by the mix of surfer and cowboy cultures (I actually used to surf with a horse shoer in Pismo Beach). The coastal California lifestyle is well known for being relaxed and as fabrics have improved, the tee has become a lot more grown up and stylish in terms of casual sophistication. And lastly and very importantly because I am unfortunately not a member of the Onassis family, tees were an affordable entry in to the fashion business for a small start up company with big city dreams."
What new items can we expect to see from you in the coming seasons?
"I plan to expand the offerings to include tank tops for spring/summer, hoodies for fall/winter and polo shirts for the hunter/jumper crowd, all featuring beautiful color combinations and artistic equine graphics. While the current designs appeal primarily to the English set, I would also like to put out a line that appeals to the Western lifestyle enthusiast. I have a great interest in the American Wild West and its cowboy culture that I know will inspire some great designs. This will all be coming out in 2013."
Classical Rider
"Time in the saddle is never wasted."
Where do you see your company in five years? What are some of your long-term goals?
"Now we're getting in to the serious stuff! In five years I see my company being a well known and respected equestrian clothing company with a presence in both the US, the UK and Europe.
My long term goals are all a means to the same end.
1. I started from day one supporting the Compton Jr. Posse with funds generated from the sales of merchandise. I plan to continue that support because the organization strongly emphasizes education and I am a firm believer in the importance of educating our youth for a brighter future of our society. I also love that it includes horses in doing so, inspiring future equestrians.
2. Within the next 2 years I would like Irish Hunter's fashions to gain popularity in mainstream fashion. For example, being featured in Glamour or Lucky magazines. Elite designers such as Gucci, Hermes and Ralph Lauren have made equestrian fashion a perennial staple in the fashion world. I would like for Irish Hunter to be a casual equestrian fashion line that appeals to consumers outside of the equestrian industry. To some this may sound crazy, but hear me out. The majority of women and girls find horses to be appealing. Even if they don't ride, they might want to, or can at least appreciate horses in art, plus riding is one of the most aesthetically pleasing sports one can participate in. I think there's something very appealing about the equestrian lifestyle, and fashion is a main identifier of a lifestyle, even if one is not actively participating in it. Take for example surf shops. They are found everywhere, including Omaha, Nebraska (cattle and corn country) and their biggest selling items are clothing. This is because even if you don't live by the beach, even if you've never surfed, even if you've never made the effort to be a spectator at the US Open of Surfing, the relaxed beach lifestyle is still very appealing. The great thing about horses is that you can enjoy them almost anywhere, you don't even need a beach. I want to make women's casual equestrian apparel just as appealing on a broad scale.
3. Finally, once I have achieved this level of success, I'd like to sell the company to a larger entity such as Ariat, Inc. and retire to a life of horseback riding, travel and adventure while enjoying more free time with family and friends."
All three of the t-shirts pictured are currently available on Irish Hunter's website: www.ihequestrianapparel.com. Which of the three designs is your favorite? Mine is The Monarch!
