Warrington based Eqcouture is making waves

Sophie Mercer has been riding horses since she was three and honed her skills at her father’s stationery and furniture business, dreaming that one day she would be at the reins of her own company.

She met her husband, Ben, nine years ago through mutual friends and the couple tied the knot 10 months ago at Delamere Manor.

Ben had a strong interest in clothing and fashion and always dreamt about having his own clothing brand one day. He became a site supervisor before deciding it wasn’t for him and successfully launched his streetwear label, Mercier.

Similarly, having worked for her dad for 10 years from the age of 17, Sophie’s dream became a reality with the launch of Eqcouture in Warrington in 2019, specialising in equestrian wear for women and girls, as well as accessories plus new horsewear including fly veils, saddle pads and fur brushing boots.

Sophie said: “After 10 years, I wanted the challenge of doing something on my own where I would be responsible for making all the decisions. I had a side-line to my dad’s business and had been importing and taming wild horses from Ireland, give them some TLC and find them lovely homes.

“Eqcouture took up more time and I stopped importing horses to concentrate on it full time. Ben says his streetwear brand gave me the idea, but we both know the truth!”

Eqcouture has created a range of riding and horse-related clothing and accessories, from polo shirts and jodhpurs to leggings, jackets and gilets. And with the countryside never far away from Cheshire’s towns and villages, the versatile luxury range is just at home in shops and restaurants as it is in paddocks and stables.

Sophie said: “I have been riding for 27 years and wanted to create something that is practical, comfortable and looks great. The polo shirts are really popular and you see people wearing them as casual wear as well as for riding and it was great to see people wearing them at the Royal Cheshire Show.

“They really are versatile and look good with everything from jodhpurs and leggings to denim shorts. It’s a smart country look that doesn’t look out of place out of a horsey setting.

“The leggings come with the ‘sticky seat’ which helps grip the saddle when you are riding, but they look great if you are nipping to the shops, going to the gym, or just to be comfortable at home.

“We have also found that people wear the base layers for exercise and it is easy to add or remove them to warm up or cool off.

“The winter range includes coats and jackets in a puffa-style which are waterproof and warm, and look great wherever you wear them – even if you are on a farm or working with horses, you can still look nice!”

Having created a range that is both practical and stylish, Sophie has been thrilled with the success of the business, as well as the feedback.

She said: “The response has been fantastic and I think we have filled a gap in the market between expensive equestrian wear which is only for riding, and the cheaper polo-style look. People have said Eqcouture is good quality, fairly priced and is perfect for riding as well as socialising because you look good whatever you are doing.

“People have also said it’s comfortable and good quality which will last, which is what I was aiming for.”

Launched a year before the pandemic, demand for Eqcouture took off during lockdown when people could shop online and spend their time finding what they wanted. As well as big demand in the UK, Sophie has received orders from around the world, including the US and Canada, as well as the Czech Republic, Kuwait and Dubai – places where horse riding and racing are extremely popular.

Sophie said: “I am really proud of what we have achieved, especially with the range of products we have produced. It didn’t hit me until I was modelling items for the website and I saw how many things there were to try on that I realised how far we had come in a short space of time.

“We were fortunate that we could keep working throughout the pandemic and could fill orders as they came in, especially for people who were still looking after horses. It is a big range and I really did not expect to be at this stage now.”

Having designed Eqcouture to be stylish and practical, Sophie wears everything in the range, but admits she does have a few of go-to favourites.

She said: “I spend most of my time in leggings and I’m never without a jacket or gilet because they are so handy for the seasons and the changing weather. The Deluxe Lightweight Coach Jacket has a split hem which means it is practical for riding as well as keeping you dry whatever else you are doing. It’s smart, like a shirt jacket, and I really love it.”

With Ben and Sophie having both launched very different clothing lines, they often share friendly rivalry and banter, as well as serious business advice.

Sophie said: “During lockdown, when things were up in the air and everyone was trying to make it work, we helped each other with advice, as well as sharing good ideas or warning each other about what to avoid.

“I remember Ben liked the tags we were using on our products and has incorporated something similar into his line. We are sharing good business practices and because they are so different, we can see each other’s products and challenges with a fresh pair of eyes and we can give an honest opinion about everything.

“There is a bit of friendly rivalry but we each want the other to succeed and we do listen to each other. Ben is really creative and I am better on the business side of things so it’s great to be able to help each other with the things we are good at.”