Cologne (GER), 30 January 2018 – The times are long gone when classic riders preferred to wear simple outfits. Numerous national international exhibitors will be proving this at Spoga Horse Spring 2018, which opens its doors in Cologne from 4 to 6 February 2018. Graphic patterns, rhinestones and comic prints dominate the current autumn/winter collections. Also in the safety and equipment sections, products are in demand that can do both: guarantee maximum function and at the same look fashionable.
A hint of the spring: The undisputed favourite colour this autumn is lilac. All shades can be found in the new fashion collections – purple, aubergine, lavender and pink. The pastel shades are frequently combined with grey or taupe. Some of the manufacturers have turned this trend into whole collections that combine weatherproof materials with aesthetic details. Others are quite consciously relying on the classic, discrete execution. Here the shade presents itself in a much darker version and carries promising names like “blackcurrant”. Elegant products with a small logo – or indeed totally without a logo – consciously form an opposite trend to the numerous colourful and glittering details that are going to be present this year.
Because, glitter is in, both for the rider and for the horse! Sometimes a rhinestone is just discretely apparent as a pretty detail on the jodhpurs. But also the entire unicorn programme is still going strong among the bestsellers. Especially the brand “Pummel” is selling that well that the fat, white pony with the rainbow tail and a horn on its forehead is going to be accompanied by two further friends: Visitors to spoga horse spring will already be able to make the acquaintance of “Kuri the sloth” and the “Pummel Fairy”.
What for a long time was only sold under the keyword “retro”, is going to be really trendy in the coming season: graphic patterns and colour gradients. Plenty of colours are involved here from black and white graphic prints, to floral patterns, through to a “brilliant sunrise” with a colour gradient ranging from blue, to red, to orange.
Technical materials
Jodhpurs with silicon seats continue to sell like hot potatoes, because they combine the elasticity of jodhpurs with leather legs with the grip of a full seat. New: silicon has also joined the ranks of fashionable accessories. One manufacturer offers for example jodhpurs with silicon prints to match the season, such as ice crystals or flowers.
Softshell, mesh and fleece continue to be evergreens. The functionality of these materials is reaching unimagined peaks. Highly breathable, weatherproof materials and precise fits can be found everywhere in the fashion sector. The trend is clearly moving away from jodhpurs in the direction of riding leggings, commented one manufacturer. This is also due to the technical possibilities of the modern textile production. Because in the meantime a comfortable, thin fabric and maximum service life no longer rule each other out. This is being made possible for instance by the new high performance yarn NILIT Heat that is taking some of the autumn collections by storm. It comprises of coffee active carbon fibres that store the natural body warmth of the rider. Riding jackets and jodhpurs that should rub as little as possible in winter too, are maximally insulated as a result.
Influencers involved
Hip brands, shapes or influencers also help to sell equestrian products. For example there are socks with Emoji imprints – unicorns are also very popular again here, but also flamingos and diverse “smilies”. A children’s collection picks up on the jeans look of the lead actress of the second “Wendy” film. The hype that many YouTubers triggers off in young people is also being used to achieve a high promotional effect: The well-known equestrian sport blogger Annica Hansen is getting her own collection, which will be presented at spoga horse and subsequently advertised via her YouTube channel.
Function meets look
The modern rider not only want his clothes, but also the equipment and safety items to look cool. Whereas in the past years for instance in the case of riding hats the emphasis lay on the themes function and comfort, the technology is in the meantime so sophisticated that the focus is returning to new designs and colours. For instance one company is presenting a new riding hat at spoga horse spring that is available in the trend colours rose gold and matt gold as a special edition.
In the saddle section the focus clearly continues to lie on the fit and the workmanship. The saddle should not only just fit the horse perfectly, but also the rider. For example, the Physioflex saddles are specially adapted to match the anatomical features of the female pelvis, i.e. are slimly tailored in the pubic area with a slightly wider seat.
All in all, the offer of the different manufacturers in all sections of the equestrian sport is colourful and cheerful this year. As a counterbalance, classic, discrete fashion continues to be popular. The materials used are of the highest technical quality and guarantee best performance as well as maximum comfort. Current trends from the advertising sector and social networks are being picked up on and established as a product or additional advertising media. The trade visitors can convince themselves at Spoga Horse Spring from 4 to 6 February 2018 in Cologne.
Official web site: Spoga Horse Spring 2018 – here –
Press Release Spoga Horse Spring 2018