78 SIDELINES NOVEMBER 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
for fundraising purposes and
has made co-branded items
for iconic sporting events such
as the Rolex Three-Day Event,
Devon, The Breeders’ Cup and
the Lake Placid Horse Show.
Besides limited run co-
branded and private label
items, many of Rebecca Ray
Designs’ other products are
one-of-a-kind, made from
vintage components that
Rebecca finds on her quests
for inspiration. Coupled with
the designer’s upbringing in
an equestrian family with an
artistic pedigree of florists, architects, and painters, Rebecca’s
handbags, accessories and home goods are bound to
encapsulate characteristics native to the equestrian lifestyle:
traditional, functional, elegant, timeless, modern and
fashionable. RRD goods have an inherent authenticity; the
equestrian designer, the Amish harness makers who craft
the leather goods, and the products are even made from
bridle leather and harness hardware. Fittingly, the beautiful
designs and commendable business model have not gone
unnoticed. Oprah and Martha Stewart have featured Rebecca
Ray Designs on their Made in America lists and the products
have reached markets beyond the horse and canine worlds.
In fact, of the 400 domestic retailers that carry RRD, tack
stores comprise only a small portion. If Oprah and Martha
Stewart’s opinions haven’t already sold you on the brand,
then perhaps the “Made in the U.S.” label, handcrafted
limited quantity runs, charitable giving and ethical business
practices, high quality craftsmanship or beautiful classic
designs will.
About the writer: 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. Alessandra
covers the fashion scene for
Sidelines. She currently has two
mares that she trail rides and
shows in the jumpers.
All photos courtesy of
Rebecca Ray Designs
By Alessandra Shultz
In an industry that has largely
moved production overseas,
homogenized goods for the
sake of economies of scale and
distanced the design process
from both the manufacturers
and the consumers, Rebecca
Ray Designs (RRD) remains
an outlier. The American brand,
founded by Rebecca Yuhasz
Smith of Chagrin Falls, Ohio,
gained footing in the early
stages of the company due to
Rebecca’s impeccable taste in
sporting art, the ability to combine this medium of inspiration with
her bag designs, combined with the all-American bootstrapping
tenacity to sew her creations until the wee hours of the morning
while marketing her handmade bags to the dog show crowd.
Once Rebecca’s designs started selling faster than she had
hours in the day to sew,
she approached her
friends in the Amish
community to help meet
the demand. For nine
years, Rebecca Ray
Designs has cultivated
a working relationship
with the Amish craftsmen
and women who sew the
designs sans electricity.
Each piece is bench-
made one at a time,
crafted with artisan skill
that has otherwise nearly vanished in the wake of industrialism
in the U.S. and the semi-automated and semi-skilled nature of
apparel manufacturing as it remains today. Additionally, there is the
added benefit of participating in the local economy, an important
merit and marketing point of “Made in the USA” products overall.
But RebeccaRayDesigns’ uniqueandadmirablebusinessmodel
does not stop at exceptional handcrafted quality and supporting
domestic industry; the brand is also socially grounded, manifest
by supporting a multitude of philanthropic ventures ranging from
charity horse shows to dog shelters to women and children
advocate programs. Over and above philanthropic donations,
RRD also collaborates with organizations to create unique pieces
e
Fashion - A Tribute to America
The Maryann Horse in orange.
The Bit Bracelet – chestnut with brass.
The Julie Dog in wheat.
The Men’s travel kit.
The Lizzie Brown.
Fashion Made in the U.S.A
