SPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT

LAURACEA

Unique, Luxury, Leather Goods to Elevate Your Equestrian Style

WORDS: TYLER BUI

WHEN IT COMES to the perfect ring bag, functionality often comes before style. But why not have both? Offering quality, style, and practicality, LAURACEA has created one-of-a-kind products fit for the equestrian in the barn or out and about on the go. Creative director and founder Tamara Makris had one goal in mind—to create classic, timeless products crafted from the highest quality of materials, while bridging the gap between performance and beauty.

The brand offers a range of different leather products from their iconic convertible backpack tote to mini wristlets, a belt wallet, and a petite tote. Their products are offered in a variety of high quality Italian leathers, including a waterproof leather perfect for the barn or horse show.

“It was very important to me that, as a brand, we create something of lasting worth and value. I want a LAURACEA purchase to be something that you can pass down to a younger generation, and not only will it look better with time, but it will still be fashionable,” says Makris. “Because classic is timeless, and timeless is good.” MINI CONVERTIBLE BACKPACK TOTE LAURACEA’s Mini Convertible Backpack Tote is the perfect holiday gift, doubling as an everyday backpack or tote. Crafted from high-quality Italian leather, the bag features a waterproof interior liner, an interior slip pocket, a detachable top handle, and a padded exterior slip pocket for easy access to an iPhone or iPad. Additional luxury details include: Hand stitching, custom branded hardware, and custom zipper pulls.

The Mini Convertible Backpack Tote was originally introduced during WEF in 2022, offered in navy and khaki. Now being one of LAURACEA’s best selling products, it is additionally available in chocolate in a waterproof leather, black in a natural grain leather, and a caramel/ navy combo which is a caramel colored Napa leather trimmed with the navy waterproof leather.

CONVERTIBLE BACKPACK TOTE For a larger bag, the original Convertible Backpack Tote carries all of the same features as the mini, with the addition of LAURACEA’s signature keyring. The bag has waterproof liners, interior pockets, a neoprene padded laptop sleeve on the back panel, and side snap gussets for a third style option.

“The hardware on all of our bags is solid brass, plated in the highest level of gold, and hand tooled and branded by a jeweler in Italy,” says Makris. “The liner is milled in Italy, and our zippers are Italian-made. The zipper pulls are custom and branded by the Italian zipper manufacturer. We deliver a very high level of artisanship with things like handstitched elements and hand-painted edge

“I want a LAURACEA purchase to be something that you can pass down to a younger generation, and not only will it look better with time, but it will still be fashionable.”

—TAMARA MAKRIS, CREATIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER

FROM LEFT: Model Athletes Lindsay Simmons-Beale, Hailey Hak, and Sarah Redman

SPOTLIGHT

trim. We’re alongside some very notable legacy fashion houses in our factory.”

BELT WALLET CLUTCH Along with the LAURACEA backpacks is a forthcoming new product that makes a perfect holiday gift. While LAURACEA currently offers a belt wallet, Makris wanted to create a product that would not only fit everything you keep in your wallet, but your phone as well. The new Belt Wallet Clutch will be able to hold your essentials without feeling too bulky, and makes it easy to carry your belongings handsfree in and out of the saddle. This new LAURACEA addition can be worn in three different ways: As a wallet, worn on a belt, or carried as a clutch.

PASSPORT CASE With travel back in full swing and the upcoming holiday season approaching, another great gift option is LAURACEA’s Passport Case. Handcrafted in Italy with high-quality Italian leathers and offered in four colors, the Passport Case offers convenient leather slip pockets to hold your passport and boarding pass.

“We at LAURACEA hope that our products bring each customer the satisfaction of having a classic, sophisticated, quality item,” says Makris. “Throughout the years, our products have been developed to customize the finest details to maximize functionality, and we aim to visually display the worth of each bag. As we enter this holiday season, look no further than LAURACEA for gifts to give your horse and non-horse friends alike. We have something for everyone, and are excited to share our love for our products with you.”

Whether you’re looking for the perfect ring bag, work bag, or a gift, LAURACEA’s products provide lasting quality and craftsmanship. Created by a horse person, for horse people, each item not only offers the beauty of a luxury item, it also provides the durability that is necessary to last in the barn and at the horse show.

Model Athlete Cara McFadden

SYDNEY COLLIER

Modeling LAURACEA’s Convertible Backpack Tote is is Para Dressage rider and LAURACEA Model Athlete Sydney Collier. Collier instantly fell in love with the sport after taking her first lesson at age seven. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with Wyburn-Mason Syndrome, a rare, life threatening condition that causes arteries and veins to grow together leading to vascular malformations (AVMs) in the brain.

Given the location of her AVMs, Collier’s treatment options were limited and she quickly began losing control of her left side and losing her vision. She underwent a series of experimental treatments at the Stanford University Medical Center, but in 2009 she suffered a stroke during surgery, which landed her in a rehabilitation center.

Despite all of her health setbacks, nothing was stopping Collier from getting back in the saddle. During the following year, she attended the World Equestrian Games as a spectator, which was the first year Para Dressage riders were able to compete. There she met Jonathan Wentz, who became one of her mentors. In 2012, Collier and her family made the decision to move to Millbrook, NY, to train with Wes Dunham, and she tirelessly worked to achieve her riding goals.

At the age of 16, Collier earned a spot on the US Para Dressage team, and competed as the youngest rider at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. In the 2016 Paralympics, Collier won the 2016 US Para Dressage National Championships and was the youngest member in the equestrian portion of the Paralympics as a part of Team USA. Today, Collier continues to pursue her passion as a rider and competitor, while also dedicating herself to service by volunteering and giving back to her community.

WE GET YOU.

Sydney Collier

Paralympic Equestrian, Dressage

It may be fashion month, but we design with the equestrian in mind all year round.