Julia Livingston designs equestrian-inspired fashion for everyone

Classic pieces of equestrian inspiration have long been a part of New England fashion. Whether it’s a pair of riding boots, a collared shirt or even a cape, anyone can rock the timeless style embodied by these pieces with grace and surprisingly little effort.

Julia Livingston, the founder and designer of Clovis, a Boston-based equestrian-inspired clothing brand, believes in equestrian clothing so much that she’s created a whole line around it. At first glance, Clovis’ premise makes a lot of sense: Livingston, herself someone who enjoys horseback riding, has noticed that something is missing when it comes to the options available for equestrian clothing. It was during her own research into technical pieces designed for riding that she realized there was a gap between what was in fashion and what was affordable for the average rider.

“Much of what I found shopping for riding clothes was expensive, whereas the clothes are literally meant to get dirty,” Livingston says.

The more she searched, the more the thought crystallized in her head: Did it make sense to spend so much money on clothes designed for riding? There must be a happier medium out there, she thought, first right away, then often, and before long that was all she could think of. And that’s how Livingston decided to create a line designed to get dirty and both chic and comfortable.

Fueled by her own ambition, Livingston brought to life cycling clothing that also functions as trendy street wear for the average consumer looking for well-made and timeless pieces for their wardrobe. Many of the brand’s pieces are also suitable for other sports, including tennis, skiing, etc. And while designing a line of equestrian clothing for non-riders may seem counterintuitive to some, it is the versatile nature of Livingston’s designs that is proving practical and popular with consumers.

If the line offers technical pieces intended for riding, other pieces are simply inspired by riding. “I was really researching and ended up creating equestrian-inspired clothing at a lower price that also works as an everyday garment,” says Livingston. Clovis clothing emphasizes four-way stretch, breathability, a dry fit and the use of moisture-wicking material. The pieces are perfect for everything from horseback riding to racing and are unisex as well as machine washable and dryable. Small touches are important to Livingston, and Clovis focuses on leather details, quality fabrics and prints inspired by the English countryside. As a result, turtlenecks, sweatshirts and gloves are as great for the barn as they pair with a ski parka or jeans for a no-frills outfit.

Connecting with Clovis customers around the world has been both a pleasure and an exciting project for Livingston, who says it has been “more rewarding to see sales coming from all over the world”. She credits the power of social media not only to her ability to extend Clovis’ reach, but also to help him connect personally with customers. “It’s true what small business owners often say,” says Livingston, that “we really do a happy little dance when we see an order coming in, especially when it comes from a new customer or from a company. a new country. The excitement and gratitude I have is tremendous.

Always concerned about the environment, Clovis strives to use organic and recycled materials. The brand is proud to offer its “Reduce. Reuse. Re-Clovis “which” reuses existing garments in “some of their” more popular designs, helping to break the disposable fashion cycle that many people find themselves in without even being fully aware of, “says Livingston. of this collection is “hand-crafted, hand-selected and sustainably sourced,” she explains.

As Livingston contemplates Clovis’s future, she is both inspired and invigorated afterwards, including a zodiac line featuring items designed around the deities that represent the signs of the zodiac. Other sweatshirts, pullovers, button down shirts and less technical items are also in the works that will appeal to the average shopper for everyday wear.

CONTACT clovisequestrian.com