BEHIND THE SEAMS

by Laurie Berglie photos by James Berglie and courtesy of Redingote Equestrian

Redingote

A F U N C T I O N A L & FA S H I O N A B L E WAY TO BEAT THE WINTER WEATHER

AS equestrians, we are often outdoors year-round in all kinds of weather. The co-founders of Redingote, Connie DeMaio and Allison Malenfant, wanted to make it simple to stay warm and dry in the winter. Together they created a one-piece suit, using technical fabrics and thoughtful details inspired by riders like us. For the first time, riders have access to a single coverall-style piece of outerwear that is both fashionable and feminine and keeps us warm from head to toe.

Waterproof, breathable, and insulated from top to bottom, Redingote is designed to layer over any standard riding or show outfit. The double storm flap over the zipper not only blocks wind and water but is secured by magnets instead of velcro. There are endless places to stash your essentials. Secure your phone, keys, cash, cards, gloves, and anything else you need to hold onto in a variety of interior and exterior pockets. And maybe best of all is the fact that you can hop off your horse and into your suit without ever removing your boots! The leg zippers open up to the thigh, allowing you to pull it on and off anywhere, anytime.

Horse & Style recently had a chance to chat with co-founders Connie and Allison about their product that is, quite simply, making life a lot easier for equestrians who live in colder climates.

Horse & Style: Tell us about Redingote’s history. When was the company founded? What was your inspiration for starting the company?

Connie DeMaio: Redingote was born after a very long day of teaching in a very cold indoor. Every winter I broke out my old vintage men’s coveralls, (that I picked up at a yard sale), to keep me warm. It was great because I could wear only my breeches and a long sleeve underneath, and it would keep me warm without having to deal with the heaviness of multiple layers. But it wasn’t very flattering or professional looking, nor did it have any essentials needed for us as riders. I would hear clients and riders say, “Wow, where did you get that – that’s smart,” while others would say, “You look like you are going to change the oil under the tractor!” After one of these comments it struck me: horsewomen need this, but better. I went home, told my husband the idea, and went to work.

Allison and I met through our husbands and we became friends. I told her my idea, and we went to dinner and Redingote was born! Allison has a fashion background, so she took my old bulky coverall and helped design something that looks good on women of all shapes and sizes. Combined with my horse knowledge, we make a great team.

one-piece was Connie’s brainchild. As a trainer, she spent so many Northeast winters bundling up in so many layers that she was constantly adjusting as she went from riding to teaching to barn work. She wanted one thing that could just slip on over her outfit and keep her warm, dry, and clean. While coveralls were already on the market, they mainly catered to men and were certainly not making any fashion statements. She knew she could make something more functional, better looking, and more specific to a rider’s needs.

I thought her idea was genius, and I had a background in activewear merchandising and product development. She knew the horse world, and I knew how to get clothes made. It was a match made in heaven!

We spent our first year cycling through prototypes, making improvements, and perfecting our final product. We picked apart our needs as riders and what our days entailed, and tried to come up with an answer for everything. Then 2018 was all about getting the word out as we awaited our first delivery that fall. We’ve been on the ground running ever since and if all goes as planned, we are hoping to launch some exciting new things in 2020!

H&S: Tell us a little about your education and background as business owners.

CD: Having horses taught me responsibility, and my mother instilled an incredible work

ethic in me at a young age. If I wanted something, I had to work to get it. At 12 years old, my sister and I would teach lessons and break horses for money. After high school, my sister and I moved from Pennsylvania to Long Island, New York. I picked up a phone book, (yes, a phone book), looked for the closest barn and booked a lesson for myself. I rode there and then they asked me if I wanted a job. This is where I learned that my experience could help me make a living. I was hired right away doing the same thing I did at home: taking care of horses, teaching lessons, and training. I get my entrepreneurial spirit from my mom, who always told me I could do anything I wanted, and taught me to become a self-starter. I never went to college but worked very hard to become successful at a young age.

AM: I worked for a high-profile fitness brand for about eight years. It was my first real job at the age of 22. I held numerous roles in the retail/fashion arm of the company in that timespan, ranging from concepting and design, to merchandising, to production and manufacturing. I didn’t study any of this in school. I studied interior design, but there are many parallels between the two industries.

”this was a way I could do that using the skills I had already developed. There’s a lot we know and a lot we don’t know, but I think we are problem solvers who play to each other’s strengths. “ We reinvented the coverall, and women love it! It’s exciting to see not only horsewomen wear it but non-equestrians too. We have crossed over into skiing and snowboarding, women who hike and fish, and moms who want something to keep them warm while playing in the snow with their kids.

Entrepreneurship wasn’t necessarily a goal of mine, but when the right idea came along, it made total sense and really felt like things came full circle. I had always wanted to be involved with horses, and

Allison Malenfant and Connie DeMaio, Redingote founders

H&S: Tell us about you two as equestrians.

AM: I’ll let Connie tell more about herself, but she’s the real deal – a real pro! She can do anything. She’s such a beautiful rider and horsewoman, and I am constantly amazed at her natural skill.

I am the opposite of that! I picked up the sport as a 27-year-old total beginner. I could only ride once a week due to my work schedule, so the progress has been slow, as you can imagine! Thankfully, my schedule has become more flexible in the last year, allowing me to add some more time in the saddle. The nice thing about being in my position is that there is no pressure. It’s something that I love to do more than anything in the world, and I just get to enjoy it and learn as much as I can as I go.

CD: My father was a Standardbred trainer, so some of my earliest memories are of my brother, sister, and me running through the aisles of the barns and jogging on the cart with my dad. He would throw us up on the Standardbreds bareback, and when my mom found out, she started us with lessons at a local barn. My sister and I joined 4-H after that and started horse showing.

Horses are a part of my everyday life, and I am very lucky to have that.

H&S: Why do you think Redingote resonates with the equestrian community?

CD: I think it was something that our industry needed. It makes women feel good. When Allison and I go to trade shows, my favorite thing to see is how happy a customer is when they try it on! Redingote is waterproof, yet lightweight and keeps you warm; it’s not bulky so we can move around easily while wearing it, and you can step in and out of it with your boots on. We really worked hard to hit all the marks we would need as horsewomen, and our customers appreciate that.

AM: I think Redingote has resonated so well throughout the riding community because it was founded from a real need. The reason we made this is because we need this. We are our market. We knew that if we were wanting it, there were bound to be other women out there looking for the same thing. And because we live the lifestyle, we were able to make it functional in a real way.

H&S: What has been Redingote’s biggest accomplishment to date? Biggest challenge?

CD: Our biggest accomplishment has been having found our place in the industry and seeing riders from all disciplines wearing Redingote, from professionals to backyard riders. Our biggest challenge was getting these riders to know and accept us! We were a new brand in the horse industry amongst some big names. Being new made

it hard to be accepted in the beginning, but the need was there, and now we are in many tack shops all over the country!

AM: I think our biggest accomplishment is that we have outfitted hundreds of riders and equine professionals, ranging from weekend warriors to veterinarians to farriers to the Grand Prix ring. We created something that has allowed us to help so many women who are trying to do their jobs with efficiency and in style!

H&S: What differentiates Redingote from similar businesses?

AM: Our product does not exist elsewhere. Our one-piece offers functionality and comfort in the winter season that we do not believe you can get from another brand at this time. It is our goal to continue to offer this kind of individuality and innovation as we grow and expand in the coming years.

CD: There is nothing like Redingote! We reinvented the coverall, and women love it! It’s exciting to see not only horsewomen wear it but non-equestrians too. We have crossed over into skiing and snowboarding, women who hike and fish, and moms who want something to keep them warm while playing in the snow with their kids. It’s even great to throw on while walking the dog!

H&S: Where do you see Redingote in five years?

CD: We see Redingote becoming a household name in the industry. We want to be the go-to for technical gear. Keep your eyes open in 2020; we’re looking to launch our rain gear in the Spring!

AM: We have a big vision, and I see Redingote offering a full line of innovative outerwear, riding apparel, and accessories in five years. I think we will be a wellestablished brand in the United States and working to expand our international presence and recognition.

H&S: Do you have any advice for someone who would like to start his/her own equestrian business?

CD: Do it! If you have an idea, go for it! If you want something, get it – there’s always a way. Set it, get it.

AM: If you have an idea that keeps you up at night, try it. See what happens. My life motto about almost everything is, “Nothing is permanent.” You can always turn around or change course. That being said, just do what you want to do, even if you aren’t sure it’s going to work out. You don’t have to know everything. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to have a lot of money. You just have to find something you’re deeply excited about and be ready to do a lot of work.

Connie and Allison started Redingote because they needed to simplify their lives. “Bottom line is, we’re just like you. We value time spent riding horses, connecting with our friends and communities, and helping train the next generation of riders. We want to own fewer things that make all of that easier to do. We hope Redingote helps you do just that.”

For more information, visit Redingote’s website at redingoteequestrian.com and on Instagram @redingote_equestrian.

2020 SUMMIT

April 14 & 15 Las Vegas, Nevada MGM Grand Conference Center on this year’s opportunity to connect with women in the equine industry. Join us in Vegas and learn from accomplished, dynamic women how to be successful in a changing world. Don’t miss out EQBW Welcomes Back Our Proud Founding Partner ONLY $219!

9:00 - 9:45 Keynote Speaker 10:00 - 10:30 Coffee Break 10:30 - 11:30 Panel 1 -Creating Your Company Values 11:45-12:45 Panel 2 -Business in a Social World 1:00 Networking Lunch 2:30 - 3:30 Panel 3 -Money Matters 3:45 - 4:45 Panel 4 -My Business Story 5:00 - 6:00 Cocktail Party hosted by Horse & Style Magazine and Sonoma Horse Park Get Inspired! Take Action! 9:00 - 10:30 Morning Workshops (pick one) 1. Accounting 2. Marketing 3. Building Resiliency 10:30-11:00 Coffee Break 11-12:30 Networking Roundtables Workshop coaches and panelists will be available for small group roundtable Q&A sessions. 12:30 Networking Lunch 2:30 - 4:00 Afternoon Workshops (pick one) 1. R+: Positive reinforcement 2. Raising Capital 3. Equine Law 101 4:00 Closing Remarks & Farewell April 14 April 15 2020 Schedule of Events

EQBUSINESSWOMEN.COM FOR MORE SCHEDULE INFORMATION AND TO JOIN US IN VEGAS VISIT:

HORSE & STYLE HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE PRESENTED BY HALTER PROJECT, A GIANT STEPS THERAPEUTIC EQUESTRIAN CENTER BENEFIT – NOVATO, CA OUT&about

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1. Table settings at StoneTree Golf Club with centerpieces by Vanda Floral Design 2. Giant Steps staff are on hand to welcome guests and run the event (L–R): Sean Willer, Tucker Ricioli, Katherine Theus and Beth Porter 3. Kathy Kamei Designs 4. Stick & Ball 5. Vendor Annie Heise, founder of Two Bits Equestrian, with a Holiday Boutique shopper 6. Luncheon guests show their support of Giant Steps by bidding on auction items

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7. Shopping for a cause 8. L–R: Lauren Whitlock, Hope Glynn, Alison Chapleau, Bitsa Freeman and Chelsea Cain at the Vanguard Properties sponsored table 9. Speaker and parent of a Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center student, Laura Chung, with friend and guest Andrea Azar 10. Wild Pear Company 11. Giant Steps staff member Sean Willer helps auctioneer Abra Annes Sills pick a winning raffle ticket