Custom Team Equestrian Clothing

Custom Team Equestrian Clothing

Custom team equestrian clothing helps yards, riding clubs, competition teams, equestrian retailers and horse businesses create a consistent identity across training, competition, travel and promotional activity. This page explains what to specify, how to compare suppliers and manufacturers, which development questions to ask, and how EquiGuild can help you discover relevant sourcing contacts.

Custom teamwear may include competition shirts, polos, base layers, jackets, gilets, hoodies, sweatshirts, breeches, leggings, waterproof outerwear and accessories. The right product depends on how it will be used, the level of branding required, the number of wearers, the delivery schedule and whether you need a repeatable programme rather than a one-off order.

What custom team equestrian clothing can include

Teamwear is often treated as a logo-printing exercise, but equestrian clothing has to work around riding movement, changing weather, repeated washing and the practical needs of riders on the ground. A useful brief should identify the activities the garments must support before a supplier recommends styles or decoration methods.

• Competition and show clothing: technical polos, show shirts, lightweight jackets, gilets and smart layers with discreet team branding.
• Training wear: breathable tops, base layers, sweatshirts, hoodies, leggings and flexible outer layers for regular use.
• Yard and stable clothing: durable jackets, bodywarmers, workwear-style tops, waterproofs, hats and other practical garments.
• Club and event merchandise: branded casualwear and accessories for members, supporters, sponsors or event participants.
• Business and staff clothing: coordinated garments for retailers, instructors, competition yards, grooms, stud farms and equestrian service providers.

Some buyers need a single design in a wide size range. Others need a more developed collection with several garment types, colourways, sponsor placements and repeat ordering. These are different sourcing projects, so make the intended range clear at the start.

For a broader view of the market, see EquiGuild’s guide to equestrian clothing, riding wear and brands. It can also help to separate a custom teamwear project from a private-label collection, where the buyer owns or develops a wider branded product range.

What buyers should look for

Fit and movement

Riders need garments that accommodate an active posture without excessive bulk or restrictive seams. Consider whether the clothing will be worn mounted, while grooming, during stable work, at events or in customer-facing settings. Important questions may include:

• Is the cut intended for riding, general activity or both?
• How does the design perform when layered over a base layer?
• Are sleeve, hem and waistband details practical for movement?
• Are women’s, men’s, unisex, junior and extended-size options needed?
• Will the same fit block be available for future repeat orders?

A sample should be assessed by the actual intended users rather than approved from a flat image alone. Riders can identify issues with arm movement, torso length, collar comfort, pocket placement and the interaction between a garment and riding equipment.

Fabric and performance requirements

Fabric selection should follow use rather than marketing language. The relevant variables may include stretch, recovery, moisture management, warmth, wind resistance, water resistance, abrasion resistance, weight, opacity, hand feel and drying time. The Equestrian Research Atlas research on technical fabrics in riding clothing provides useful context on fibres, stretch, recovery, moisture management, waterproofing, durability and garment performance.

For outerwear or more specialised products, ask how the textile construction, coating, laminate, seam treatment and testing relate to the intended use. The research on technical textiles used in horse equipment is relevant background when assessing how construction and finishing can influence product performance.

Request specific explanations for terms such as “breathable”, “waterproof”, “windproof”, “quick-drying”, “recycled” or “durable”. A technical claim should have a clear meaning and, where appropriate, supporting test information. Avoid choosing a fabric solely because it has a familiar performance label.

Branding and decoration

Team clothing may require embroidery, screen printing, transfer printing, sublimation, woven labels, badges or more than one method. The best option depends on the fabric, artwork, order quantity, colour count, desired appearance, wash conditions and placement.

Prepare artwork in usable formats and define the application points in advance. Typical placements include the left chest, sleeve, back, collar, leg, thigh, cap or outerwear panel. Ask whether the supplier will provide a digital mock-up, physical strike-off or decorated sample before bulk production.

Branding should remain legible without making the garment uncomfortable. Large or layered decorations can affect stretch, breathability or drape, particularly on close-fitting technical fabrics. Sponsor logos also need a clear approval process so that late artwork changes do not disrupt production.

Construction, trims and care

Review zips, poppers, drawcords, pocket openings, cuffs, hems, reflective details and labels as part of the product rather than as minor finishing choices. These components affect usability, durability and the cost of replacing or repeating a style.

Care instructions should be realistic for the intended customer. If the garment requires unusual washing or drying conditions, communicate this before approval. Buyers should also confirm what fibre information and care labelling will be supplied. The UK Government guidance on textile labelling explains responsibilities around fibre-content labelling for textile manufacturers and retailers.

Supplier, manufacturer or brand: which route is relevant?

The terms supplier, manufacturer and brand are sometimes used interchangeably, but they can represent different commercial roles.

Manufacturer

A manufacturer may make garments to a buyer’s specification, develop patterns, source or work with nominated fabrics, arrange decoration and produce samples before bulk manufacture. This route is relevant when you need custom fits, original designs, a developed collection or more control over construction.

Supplier or sourcing partner

A supplier may offer existing garments, coordinate customisation, manage several production steps or source products from manufacturing partners. This can be practical when the requirement is a branded teamwear programme based on established styles, but the actual development and production responsibilities should be confirmed.

Brand or wholesale route

An established equestrian brand may offer a ready-made product range with decoration or team-order services. This can simplify sizing, reordering and product selection, although it may provide less control over exclusive design, fabric choice or pattern development.

Ask who owns the pattern and artwork, who is responsible for quality control, where each production stage takes place, and who handles changes or faults. A trade network such as EquiGuild is useful for discovering potential contacts, but each buyer should assess suitability directly against its own brief and due-diligence process.

If you are looking for production partners rather than decorated ready-made garments, compare the options in equestrian clothing manufacturers and custom equestrian clothing manufacturers. For a more established branded product range, the EquiGuild equestrian brands guide may be a useful adjacent starting point.

Questions to ask about MOQ, development and lead time

Minimum order quantities vary by product, fabric, colour, decoration process and production route. Do not assume that a supplier’s minimum applies equally to every size, colour or garment type. Ask for the commercial basis in writing.

• What is the minimum order for samples, production and repeat orders?
• Does the minimum apply per style, colour, logo treatment or size breakdown?
• Can different sizes be combined within one colourway?
• Are there separate minimums for custom fabric, trims, labels or packaging?
• What are the sample, approval and bulk-production stages?
• When does the quoted lead time begin: brief approval, deposit, sample approval or final artwork?
• How are urgent orders, changes and delayed approvals handled?
• Can the supplier support repeat orders using the same specifications?

A realistic project schedule should include time for briefing, quotation, artwork, fabric confirmation, pattern or size review, sampling, decoration approval, production, inspection and delivery. Event dates should be shared at the beginning, but avoid treating a target date as a guaranteed delivery commitment until the production plan is confirmed.

For a new collection, create a product specification sheet covering style references, measurements, fabric composition, colours, trims, decoration locations, packaging, labels, tolerances and inspection requirements. This reduces ambiguity when several people are involved in buying, design, merchandising and approval.

Sourcing considerations for different buyers

Yards, clubs and teams

Prioritise wearability, size inclusivity, easy reordering and a clear member ordering process. A club may need a small initial run followed by occasional individual orders, while a professional team may require coordinated delivery before a season or event. Confirm whether members order centrally or whether the buyer must hold stock.

Equestrian retailers and distributors

Retail buyers should consider margin structure, packaging, barcodes or product data, size curves, seasonal timing and the distinction between exclusive and non-exclusive designs. If the products will be sold beyond one team, make sure the artwork and product rights support that use.

Brands and businesses

A business seeking branded staff clothing may value consistent colour matching and repeatability more than a highly technical fabric. A brand developing a private-label line may need more extensive development, grading, labelling, packaging and quality-control documentation. See the guide to private-label equestrian clothing if the project extends beyond team uniforms.

Environmental statements also need care. If a garment is described as recycled, lower-impact, responsible or sustainable, retain evidence for the specific claim and avoid wording that gives a broader impression than the evidence supports. The CMA and GOV.UK guidance on environmental claims in fashion retail is a useful reference for businesses selling or marketing clothing in the UK.

Relevant suppliers and brands on EquiGuild

The following live EquiGuild supplier profiles may be relevant starting points for buyers researching custom teamwear, equestrian garments or associated production capabilities:

• Khalique Sons International
• JOJI EXPORTS PVT LTD
• DH Sportz

These profiles are discovery points, not a substitute for a buyer’s own supplier assessment. Before proceeding, confirm the supplier’s relevant product experience, customisation process, sample procedure, production location, commercial terms, lead times, quality controls, documentation and ability to support your required order pattern.

How EquiGuild helps with discovery

EquiGuild is an equestrian trade network designed to help buyers discover relevant suppliers, manufacturers and brands by capability and sourcing requirement. For a custom teamwear project, start with a concise brief rather than a general request for “equestrian clothing”. Include the intended wearer, garment types, technical requirements, branding method, size range, estimated quantity, delivery market and target date.

Use relevant category and supplier pages to create a shortlist, then contact potential partners with comparable information so that responses can be evaluated consistently. You may also wish to compare custom branded equestrian clothing with ready-made branded ranges, depending on how much design control your project requires.

The strongest sourcing process keeps performance, commercial practicality and brand presentation connected. A well-defined brief makes it easier to compare suppliers, identify unanswered questions, approve samples and build a teamwear programme that can be repeated when a new season, event or customer order requires it.

FAQs

What is the difference between custom teamwear and private-label equestrian clothing?

Custom teamwear is usually created for a team, yard, club or business and may involve decorating existing garments or developing a limited range. Private-label clothing generally involves a broader branded product programme with greater control over design, labels, packaging and product ownership.

What should I include in a custom clothing brief?

Include garment types, intended use, wearer groups, size range, colours, branding placements, decoration method if known, fabric and performance requirements, estimated quantities, delivery destination, target date and repeat-order expectations.

Can one order include several garment styles?

Often it can, but minimums and development requirements may apply separately to each style, colour, fabric or decoration method. Ask the supplier how its minimums are calculated before finalising the range.

How long does custom team equestrian clothing take?

Timing depends on whether you are decorating existing garments or developing new products, as well as sampling, artwork approval, production and delivery. Ask for a stage-by-stage schedule and clarify when the quoted lead time starts.

What evidence should I request for technical or environmental claims?

Ask what the claim specifically means, which product or fabric it applies to, and whether supporting specifications or test information are available. Environmental wording should be clear, accurate and appropriately limited, in line with relevant consumer-law guidance.

Last reviewed: September 2026