By Taylor Renner
The new Firenze Backpack in white. Made of genuine Italian leather, this bag is specifically designed to fit your helmet, accessories and other barn needs (also available in black, chocolate and navy with gold notions).
Growing up, Noel Asmar always had a love for all things horses and equestrian. As a child, she dreamed of owning her own horse and would even blow kisses to horses in the fields as she drove by.
Noel started her career in fashion, designing apparel for elite spas and resorts. Continuing on with her childhood passion for horses and riding as an adult, she built her own barn at her home in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, for her two horses, Jake and Duchess. Having her horses at home meant spending more time with them and in the saddle, which inspired her to begin designing her own equestrian apparel.
“As a rider in Vancouver, we have to deal with a lot of rain,” said Noel. “I was looking for a stylish rain jacket that I could use at the barn and beyond, but found nothing suitable on the market. The experience pushed me to design pieces for myself that weren’t on the market in the tack stores. Once I started designing equestrian apparel for myself, I knew there was still a place in the market for premium, quality-fitting equestrian apparel. We officially launched Asmar Equestrian in January 2011.”
Asmar Equestrian provides apparel for riders and non-riders alike with functional and clever pieces that transition effortlessly in and out of the ring. The collection offers a wide selection of technical pieces with sun protection and performance fabrics, breeches, show apparel and outerwear as well as an accessories collection and a growing Italian leather handbag line.
“We’re a purpose-driven design company,” said Noel. “Every piece is cleverly created to fulfill a variety of requirements from the wearer. We’re inspired to design apparel that makes living life’s moments easier and more stylish including classic tailoring with innovative details that help to elevate our traditional sport and appeal to a greater audience.”
The All Weather Rider Jacket in punch
The All Weather Rider Jacket, one of the first equestrian apparel products Noel designed, continues to be a best seller throughout the collection every season. This innovative full-length jacket is designed to protect the rider and saddle from all weather conditions with a front and back skirt that unveil to fit over the saddle.
Asmar Equestrian also supports a large number of riders in many disciplines, including junior teams and Olympic-level competitors worldwide. Currently Asmar Equestrian sponsors dressage riders Adrienne Lyle, Karen Pavicic, Courtenay Fraser and Ashley Moore; show jumpers Laura Jane Tidball and Joie Gatlin; and eventers Stephanie Rhodes Bosch and Mia Farley.
“Our brand’s design philosophy is to promote the versatility of our apparel by showcasing it in and out of the ring,” said Noel. “Having sponsored riders demonstrate the functionality of our apparel worldwide is very beneficial.”
Equestrian fashion is ever-changing and constantly evolving, just as the sport is.
“This season, a preppy array of colors have set the tone for a fresh palette including punch pink, bright yellow, nautical navy stripes and more, that creates a playful tone out at the barn and in the show ring — hard to miss a rider in Asmar this spring and summer!” said Noel.
For the upcoming fall and winter season, Noel predicted, “Equestrian is synonymous for the use of leather with our saddles, boots, tack and more, so don’t be surprised to see more leather this fall!”
In the future, Asmar Equestrian plans to expand its lifestyle collections to offer a wider selection of fashions that function for the barn and for life beyond the saddle while still appealing to a range of clients including non-riders.
“With a growing collection that reaches from warm-up apparel to show apparel to lifestyle pieces and back again, we have something for everyone!” Noel said.
For more information on Asmar Equestrian visit www.asmarequestrian.com.
CEO and designer of Asmar Equestrian, Noel Asmar, with her Friesian, Jake
About the writer: Taylor Renner is a 2015 graduate of the University of Georgia with a B.S.A. in agricultural communication and a minor in animal science. She’s ridden and shown in the hunter/jumper and equitation disciplines for 12 years and is an avid photographer and writing enthusiast. She hopes to combine her love of horses and journalism into a lifelong career within the equine publishing industry.
Photos courtesy of Noel Asmar
