With the release of our latest masterpiece the 3-1 Ultimo Coat, I thought it would be a great idea to add a blog covering lots of information and questions people may have and be able to cover the capabilities of the coat in more detail. You can also watch a demo video on our Instagram account here.
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THE CONCEPT
All staff over the last several years will agree, i have had this concept, vision, and idea in my mind about this coat. I get these ideas that sit with me and have done for years as i slowly develop them to product stage. Sat doodling at my desk, trying to master the idea and how it could work from a technical textile view along with a manufacturing view given how intricate each piece would need to be when presented on a production line. When i drafted this with pencil and before i went to CAD phase i presented this concept to my outerwear manufacturing team and was told 'Stacey, this is just not possible'. Obviously, being me and anyone that knows me in work knows the word 'impossible' does not sit on our designtable. If i have not figured out how to do it yet, it means i have just figured out ways of how not to do it. I knew it was possible because it worked perfectly when visioned in my mind. I then presented how my manufacturing team could do this, and we began back and forth meetings on measurements, fittings, scaling, and panel cuts. The product started to evolve and was becoming exactly what i wanted it to become.
I create a lot of the HH Range and dislike a liquidated market, i think as a creator it is a pointless exercise to always do something that is already done. My vision for the brand has always been innovation and being unphased of trying new things and being a leader or creator of a new product concept, it is what makes my brain tick and makes my creativeness thrive.
As a creator but equally an avid horse owner, the two combined make a perfect blend to produce the 'ideas'. As i am doing my horse jobs daily i tend to always want to strive to get everything done as quickly and effectively as possible. Doing all your own horses daily, muck out's, chores, fixing fencing, exercising etc means as a creator i am always looking for making things that little bit easier. Even a simple product that may save you just an extra 30 seconds a day, is a product worth having. So when i am flying about my yard like Usain Bolt (well not quite as fast as him) trying to get everything done under the British Weather which happens to be total sunshine only for me to make a horse feed in the tack room walk out the door and it is raining, by the time i get to the stables with the feed the rain has stopped and it's windy. The good old British Weather. I then realise i am constantly switching clothing as i go from task to task as quickly as possible. I am also fiercely nesh. Yes, i am that person that could be in Barbados and i would be wrapped in a cardigan on the sun lounger, so being warm, snug, and dry outside in British winter during jobs is always necessary. I knew there was absolutely nothing available what i knew would make my life so much easier in lots of different scenarios in terms of outerwear, so i created it for HH. The 3-1 Coat.
After rehabbing my horse i spent weeks in walk work, hence cold muscles to start with for both horse and myself, so a long coat was always on the radar after the success of our hip length Storm-X Bomber, however i appreciate coming from humble beginnings not everyone can afford both a long and short coat, yet both are needed depending on the daily scenario.I wanted to create an all-in-one product for that one fave purchase you have, where you can rely on the piece to enjoy, feel amazing in, wear and think 'actually this has been a godsend today'. I wanted a layering system where if it was to warm the internal warmth could be taken away (ideal when you’re in intense training and starting to work up a sweat but it's still raining) and also ideal when it gets cold and windy and you want extra warmth you would add your cardigan. It was necessary the coat could go from short to long and long to short in a quick change. I also needed both the skirt, hood & thermal cardigan to pack up small and lightweight so they could go in my backpack or even handbag should the weather turn.
When creating i always ask 'why'. 'Why is that piece there' 'why do i need this piece here' etc. It then starts to build a practical product and develop important levels of intricacy, which leads me to the practicalities it offers....
PRACTICAL ELEMENTS
Detachable Hood
The hood is detachable via a zip that also is hidden by a flap. The hood is fleece lined; the zip is waterproof sealed. The front of the hood has a generous peak, does fit over every riding helmet we evaluated it with and around the full circumference sitting behind the peak is an internal drawstring that can be adjusted to offer a closer contact fit to whatever you choose to set it at. The hood can be used on both the short and long coat.
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Main Coat
The main coat itself is a short bomber that can be used alone with no thermal cardigan and no hood keeping it basic and light, for me this would be great for an Autumn, Spring or Summer evening event with the possibility of rain. The main coat itself has inbuilt drawstrings around the full circumference that are adjusted either side left and right. The zipper is waterproof sealed and has a handy puller. Inside the main coat is side zips which are there to connect the thermal cardigan layer to the main coat along with two buttons at the back that hook the cardigan to the main coat for extra security (no annoying movement when training). Also, inside behind the fleece layer you will find a zipped secret pocket that is super deep (I have a large iPhone plus and fits in perfect). I did assess and prefer using this side pocket rather than the outside ones. I just found it easier when riding to whip my phone out from the side and it did not feel like i had a phone using the internal pocket. At the bottom hem of the main coat is the secret feature of a hidden zip that cannot be seen when short. This hidden zip is the matching connector to the skirt attachment which will turn your main short bomber into a long coat. During manufacturing this is such an intricate part of the process as each zip comes in a pair, therefore the pair had to be made together so they align to that unique skirt and coat. The zip is the highest grade possible for outdoor use and two ways with a smooth fastening, so it is extremely easy to detach in seconds.
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Long Coat Skirt Attachment
The skirt has been made to be super lightweight, as light as a feather and from the outer shell waterproof fabric. I have been that person walking through a muddy field with a long coat on and i appreciate no matter how waterproof a product is you cannot prevent splashes of wet and mud up the inside of a long coat, the problem then is if that bottom section is thermal, fleece or sherpa type textiles they become heavy, sag, sog and create a wetness inside. I would not want to get straight on a horse with a heavy wet feeling inside my legs. I made the skirt with no filling, but an outer shell waterproof and we decided to keep fleece liner out. We wanted it not only light but easy to wipe over and should splashes get on the inside it would not weight it down or cause it not to dry quickly.
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Personally, i do not like exercising my own horses in long skirts if i am doing more than walking exercises or groundwork; but that is a personal preference we are all so different, i love them for walking out, groundwork, lunging, warming up etc but find they always get in the way on rising trot and two points when training so did not want to build a full skirt around training. I wanted the bomber to be the training aspect and once getting off or warming up i could whip the skirt off quickly ready to start my training session. Equally i adore walking the dog in the winter in the longer coat, doing all my jobs in it keeping dry and cosy and all my general outings. I rest my skirt over the arena fence and it goes straight back on when i dismount. I did decide to add two zip ups at the back so that it could be worn in saddle, but this was not my focus on this product. The zip up splits are made from a stretch base fabric which is different to the waterproof outer lay, this was done for flexibility. If deciding to wear in the saddle, you can undo all the front buttons and slow fasten them down until you get to a place you feel the front covers your leg's enough to your requirements. The skirt also has a two-way zip and then covered by a further flap of buttons, again this gives more options should you want to unzip the front and use the buttons to adapt your fit. I may investigate umbrella size quarter skirt sections that cover the quarters in the future if there is enough demand for riders wanting us to adapt the skirt further to allow more intense movement. It is also worth noting upon test phase, some horses do not like a skirt section around their rump. Each customer will know their own horse, but take precaution if a first time, which goes for any long coat or skirt not this design in general.
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The Thermal Cardigan Layer
Cosy, soft and fleecy with a generous relaxed fit so it does not restrict you. Once you have this on you would never know it’s a 2-1 layer it moulds into the coat. This can be worn alone as a reversible cardigan, but the zips either side are for the main coat fasten, so the cardigan worn alone would be unfastened, but still looks suer cute.
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Extra's Added which you will LOVE
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Cannot tell you how gorgeous and non-restrictive these feels, and so nice in cold weather when doing jobs, they really help to trap out the cold.
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Super handy, especially if like me your reflexes slowdown in the cold and you need a helping hand (no pun intended).
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The filling on the main coat is an eco poly filling which is so lightweight and will not restrict you when training.
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Fishtail Bomber Back PLUS Elasticated Back Section! Always looking to keep a non made to measure look like a made to measure garment i love adding panelling and tailoring to pieces that help tuck you in and add shape. I have never seen a bomber be adapted with a pulled in waist and slight fish tail panelling at the back, on design phase this looked really cool. I found it blended a sports look but equally feminine
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WATERPROOF LEVEL TESTING
The fabric we use on this coat is one i absolutely love to work withBIONIC-FINISH® which means it has been bionic-technology approved by DWI at RWTH Aachen University. The fabric is alsooil and soil repellent, fabric looks newer for longer, fast drying, breathable, and can come up new just by a quick wipe of a cloth due to its stain repellence.
We test all our fabrics in the lab after fabric purchase. Our test reports are then carried out on the roll before full production commences.
Waterproof level rating's tend to be more about the time spent in the rain as oppose to the water itself. 1000 level would be showerproof for maybe 30 minutes (purely example) where as 5000 would withstand heavy rainfall for a lesson duration and more. Of course 10'000 would ensure a full day in heavy rain, but then we lose the breathability aspect and overheating creating a clammy feeling.
The waterproof technology is 5000+ meaning it sits in the chart to offer a proficient level of waterproofing withstanding heavy rains. The highest waterproof is 10'000+, we purposely avoid this texture due to affecting the breathability and find 5000+ is the perfect consistency forperformance in the saddle. The problem you have when developing winter coat's is due to the thermal layers, the higher the waterproofing the less breathable they are. As an equestrian coat is designed to be worn, as an athlete the moment your heart starts pumping and building up a sweat you will be to warm and must take the coat of regardless of weather, therefore counterproductive. To this coat, we felt 5000 was a better performance waterproof level. If we adapt this further in future years, we can always adapt one aimed at outdoor walking that would be better with a 10'000+. There are pros and cons for both. We believe 5000 is brilliant for equestrian sports.
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And all for an introductory price of £285.For the level of intricacy, fabric purchases, all the handmade elements, the full kit pieces and how many months of labour a bulk production takes I have been told off by my budgeting manager for setting this price to low in ratio to what each full kit costs us to complete; but initially it was important to me we gave a good introductory price for our loyal customers to be able to be the first to grab them and provide us more feedback as we always, always want to improve an amazing product further and I wanted everyone to experience something new on the intro launch with a special price without charging the margin ratio of what each one cost us to make which has no costs spared when creating this full kit.
YOU CAN PURCHASE ON PREORDER HERE
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CARING FOR YOUR COAT
PLEASE LOOK AFTER ME:
Follow these care instructions to ensure you get the best from your product:
*DO NOT HEAT WASH/DO NOT HEAT DRY/NO DRYER OR LAY AGAINST HEAT
*We recommend sponging down an soiled spots rather than washing every time, this will ensure less reduction on the waterproofingouter layand protect the print for longevity
*When needing to wash we recommend a cool wash or dry clean in between sponging
*Due to the fabric genius within this product being soil repellent a damp sponge down will remove the most stubborn of stains
*We recommend not washing with fabric conditioner. Each wash can deter the waterproof levels, in the future depending on washing machine levels there may be a need to reproof. Testers are yet to need to do this.
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SIZING ADVICE
This product runs up true to size but may be perceived as a little generous due to the regular fit.
We have measurement charts which you are welcome to email customer service for to: admin@horzehoods.com
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