52 SIDELINES APRIL 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Aidan Keogh Takes Fashion
One Step at a Time
By Alessandra Shultz
A little over a year ago I submitted my application to transfer to a
different university. Originally, I was recruited to ride at a relatively
small private school in Texas and I thought that that was a dream
come true: cowboy boots, a long tanning season and, of course,
horses. But it turned out, that after two years there; I couldn’t
reconcile my interest in fashion with the major I had chosen, so in
the fall I transferred to Cornell University in order to study apparel
design management and product development.
It’s no secret that equestrian inspired getup is all the rage in
the fashion industry; but I was especially excited to delve into the
brands that specifcally strive to make our sport more exquisite.
Aidan Keogh, the founder and managing director of Tredstep
Ireland, took the time to share with Sidelines his insights on
designing and innovating for the equestrian athlete and the launch
of the brand’s eagerly anticipated line of breeches.
Tredstep was founded in response to the lack of sophisticated
half-chaps available on the market. Aidan, a fne art and design
student in college, “always liked creating things, making it work
better and making it more beautiful.” The company “started with
the lower leg from the knee down.” What we take for granted in
half-chaps now, were innovative features in Aidan’s reinterpreted
version: elastic panels for proper ft, a range of sizes and an
elegant aesthetic. Tredstep expanded their product lines to high
performance socks, a full range of gloves covering all disciplines
and launched a successful line of tall boots two years ago.
Aidan said the reinvented tall boots, appropriately named the
Renaissance Collection, were introduced with a goal to “bring
something fresh while respecting the tradition of the sport. The
boot could perform better and be able to fex without changing the
overall look.” The boots hit a chord with a lot of people who were
excited to ride in boots straight out of the box. In the two years
since the boots entered the market, the footwear has become the
best selling tall boot at equestrian retailers nationwide.
The brand continues to evolve and, after several years of
development, has launched the Symphony line of breeches. Aidan
and the Tredstep team work closely with their sponsored riders
from across the world to improve and perfect their merchandise.
The riders give their
feedback on new
products before they
are ever introduced
into the market and so
far the breeches are a
hit. Aidan says that it is “important to be accepted as a classical
breech. The key is the hunter and equitation riders because they
are very set on a certain look. Jumpers are more open to new
looks.”
As with the tall boots and half-chaps, the Tredstep team strove
to troubleshoot a performance based problem while preserving
the generations-old aesthetic that is so ingrained in the sport.
Unique design features in the knee, waistband, calf and the use of
cutting-edge textiles and fnishes set the breeches apart from the
rest - at an affordable price point no less. The Symphony line of
breeches are available at all major equestrian retailers.
My favorite part is the company’s use of self-cleaning nano-
sphere technology that allows the pants to be wiped clean, even
on white breeches. Tredstep’s specialty design components,
deemed Motion Fit Technology, are a product of Aidan’s in-the-
saddle research as a top eventer. The waistband design follows
the curve of the rider’s lower back so that gaping and belt pulling
doesn’t occur. A padded knee patch adds comfort against the
saddle but the scalloped bottom of the patch reduces bulk and
improves ft inside of the boot. The kneepad material utilizes a
silicone fnish that is extra grippy but does not restrict fexion of the
joint. Tredstep left no stone unturned; the breeches include all of
these top-of-the-line innovations, but are still
classic, elegant and fattering.
Aidan Keogh and Master Tredstep compete cross country at
Belton CIC 2* in the UK. Aidan is wearing Tredstep boots, socks
and gloves. He wears Tredstep products as his training and
competition experiences impact all of his design decisions for the
company.
Aidan Keogh,
the founder and
managing director
of Tredstep Ireland,
competes his horse
Master Tredstep
at Ballindenisk CIC
3* in Ireland.
Photos courtesy of
Tredstep Ireland
Alessandra Shultz grew up in the mountains of Colorado,
but now lives in upstate New York where she is studying
Apparel Design Management at Cornell University. She
currently has two mares which she trail rides and shows
in the jumpers.
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