Welcome to Brazen Emblazon Equine! This is our all-inclusive guide to key components of our equestrian brand, from how it is made to how it was inspired and everything in between. If you are reading this, hopefully you are intrigued in what we have to offer and are looking forward to browsing our large array of products. Everything you wanted to know but were afraid to ask is included in this guide, from our mission and what we value, to the processes by which the items are made. You will find links in these pages that will take you directly to the product I’m talking about, which is convenient and saves some browsing. There may also be shortcuts to blog posts about specific products. We are so excited that you’re visiting our store, looking at what we have to offer, and hopefully finding the product that you never knew you needed until you saw it and now you can’t live without it. Trust me, we have the same problem. If you would like to know about us and how we got started checkout this earlier post.
Our Values
For two women who have a combined century’s worth of experience with horses and all things equestrian and equine, one area of utmost importance to us was to create not just another tee shirt with a funny saying or a nice picture of a horse…we wanted to combine Marsha’s original designs and ones that have been adapted from licensed artists who make their artwork available through many different graphic programs with really unique apparel that is one of a kind, made of quality fabrics that are sustainable and eco-friendly, offer the best value for the price without skimping on quality, and simply to share the love of horses. We both agree that it’s not easy to find unique products that go beyond tees and hoodies. Both of us are relatively simple dressers, but what excites us is finding something you would never expect to have an equine design, like our women’s lace up equestrian boots. We pick items that catch our eye, that we would want to wear, and we can’t keep these treasures to ourselves. Regardless of background and experience with horses, whether you’re a hard-core lifer like we are or you have a horse crazy child or grandchild, we hope that you will find the perfect thing in our store, that you will not only love your product but that you will love your experience from start to finish. As literally a two-woman team, we strive to give the best customer experience possible. We aren’t just looking for one-time customers, we are looking for people who will fall in love with the brand and become a friend in the process.
Who we are designing for
One of the important things that we decided on very early was that if we were going to offer these one-of-a-kind equine designs, we wanted to make sure that we had something for anyone at any point along the equine obsessed continuum. Whether you simply love to watch horses from afar, admire the powerful symbolism of strength and freedom the horse embodies, or you are deeply involved in the show circuit, we wanted to have something that would speak to everyone at any point on this spectrum. We also thought it was incredibly important to include all the future cowboys, cowgirls, and fierce competitors despite your discipline. It’s hard enough to find unique equestrian designs for adults, let alone children and even infants! Having perused the market for equine apparel, we both agree that there really is precious little out there that takes equine designs to the next level. If you don’t just want a tee or a ball cap, you will be hard pressed to find something, aside from jewelry (which is by our way of thinking an entity unto itself) there just is not much celebrating horses, honoring the wide variety of disciplines, and the vast selection of breeds. It’s not hard to find a tee with a Quarter Horse or an Arabian on it, but what about your Missouri Fox Trotter? Fear not, we’ve got you covered. We are here for the barrel racer, the team roper, the hunter jumper, the saddle seat enthusiast, if it involves a horse and rider, or in some cases, horse and driver, we have the perfect something for you.
Product Range:
As stated previously, we really wanted to offer something other than a tee shirt or a hoodie that proudly proclaims your membership in the tribe of the horse lovers. Not that there is anything wrong with a tee or a hoodie, but what if you want to wear your passion to the office? Ladies, we offer polos, cardigans that are out of this world, and we’re looking to add more dressy pieces (like dresses and skater skirts!) for the upcoming season. Gents, we have a short sleeve button shirts down available in linen or cotton. One of the really unique things we offer is footwear, and we have a pretty fun range of styles, from espadrilles, canvas tennis shoes, and a vegan leather lace up combat boot. When was the last time you saw a horse on shoes? (Other than your daughter’s my little pony sneakers). Although we also offer children’s shoes! We offer all sorts of materials fabrics and styles.
We’re no one-trick-pony (pun intended) here at BE, we offer handbags (again…where do you find these anywhere else?!) journals and greeting cards, and a few select pieces of outerwear and home goods. We have some fun things too…like stickers, magnets and coffee mugs! Find something for your pickiest child or grandchild that will make you a superhero.
Materials:
As I mentioned in our values, we strive to provide quality, sustainable fabrics. When we are choosing different companies to source from, materials are a key consideration. A lot of the vendors we utilize carry similar products, and we make a conscious effort to compare materials, quality, and price points to ensure that we are giving you the best product at the best price point. We love to offer 100% cotton, often ring-spun and many products come in organic cottons. A lot of the fabrics contain some poly, and we look for options where the poly is recycled. Not only do we care about the environment, but we also hand pick things that we love and think you will too. Marsha has sensitive skin so she gravitates to pure cotton and all natural materials like silks and linen. I love things that have a little stretch to them and that typically involve blends with poly or Lycra, but either way, we offer a wide variety. In our shoes and ball caps, they offer vegan leather materials. When it comes to our handbags, they are generally offered in a sateen, Nappa leather, or vegan leather. Looking good is half the battle, we want you to feel amazing in what you’re wearing and to feel good about the products you’re purchasing. We want you to know that when you order something from BE, we have done the homework for you, and we have selected products that check all the important boxes. And a quick note about our infant and children’s line: we know that you want to put your little in the softest, top-quality materials and we are mindful that many children and infants have extremely sensitive skin, so it’s even more important for us to chose products that look great, feel even better, and are durable.
Processes
Now for the technical information! We use a variety of different methods to print the designs onto the products. I will get into the various methods in just a moment, and I promise I’ll try to keep it simple. One thing I wanted to note before I get into the various methods: depending upon how the product is printed and how it is constructed has a great deal to do with the overall price, which is something I really want to stress. Some of our vendors use ready-made blank products, and all that is required once the order is placed is for the actual printing to be done. Other companies dye the fabric first, then cut and sew each individual product. Obviously, this is a far more labor-intensive process, and that increases the price. There are also some of our more unique pieces that are only offered through vendors that utilize this process, so if you’ve already browsed our selection and have noticed some significant discrepancies in prices for what may seem like similar items, please know that more than likely, the skirt your like for $50 that’s similar to a skirt that’s $150, that price difference is due to how the items are printed and constructed. When we can, certainly we want to offer the best value, but we also believe that sometimes it’s worth it to pay a little more to get something that is of truly exemplary quality, and in our case, we offer things that you are not going to find anywhere else.
So…let’ talk about everything you ever wanted to know about printing but were afraid to ask (or if this part of our guide sounds as interesting as watching cement set, by all means feel free to skip right over this section. The first method that we utilize is something called sublimation printing. Sublimation printing is a specific process of printing that first involves printing onto a special sheet of paper, then transferring that image onto another material (usually polyester or a poly blend). The ink is then heated until it disintegrates into the fabric. The process of sublimation shirt printing costs more than other methods, but it lasts longer, and will not crack or peel over time, like other shirt printing methods.
Another option is screen printing. In the screen-printing process, ink is pushed through screens and printed onto the surface of the shirt. These are special screens usually made of polyester and can be treated in a particular way to allow ink to only pass through in very specific parts. These ‘very specific parts’ make up the design you printed onto it. Once the screen is prepared it’s laid flat on top of the shirt and is ready to go for printing. In the printing process, ink is laid on top of the screen and pushed through with a squeegee. If there are multiple colors in the design, this step must be repeated for each color as well as an individual screen must be prepared for each color. This is one of the major drawbacks of screen printing. Once the ink is laid on top of the surface of the shirt it’s usually heated to allow the ink to dry quickly. The result is a very vibrant as well as textured design on the surface of the shirt. This textured feel is one of the more desirable features of screen printing.
A third method that is used is DTG or Direct to Garment Printing. It works just like a paper printer except you’re printing the design on a t-shirt instead. A computer is connected to the DTG printer, and after creating the design with compatible software, the shirt is printed. Normally a quick pre-treatment is applied to the shirt and the curing process is sped up with a heat press afterwards, however, the prep is very quick and easy. DTG designs have a shiny look and feel that add vibrancy to the complex designs that DTG can produce. Aside from higher production cost, this method of printing works primarily on cotton.
Creative Process
The creative process is typically unique for each artist and designer. At BE we do a lot of experimentation. Rarely is it a straight line and many designs never make it to the website. Whether a design remains on the website is in the hands of you, our buyers. Seasonally our items are reviewed and if you don’t like them, we go back to the drawing board, literally!
In general, we will start with a horse design we love and create around it. Sometimes creating a silhouette, at others placing it within backgrounds. Once we have some designs we love, we determine products that might work with these designs that our clients would love. The designs are reworked for each product to ensure great printing design.
On occasion we reverse the process and locate a product we think our customers will love. In that case we imagine a design or designs for it and go about creating it. Whichever process we choose we think of you, our customer, the beauty of the horse, and the best way to celebrate the horse on the products we produce in bold and colorful ways.
The horse has walked with us through the centuries. It has inspired generations and fostered a love and passion for many of us that is comparable to little else in our lives. The spirit, courage, strength, and beauty of the equine continue to be an example of community, consciousness, and bravery in a world in danger of losing itself. My hope is that our designs and images will inspire each of us to grow into our better selves, something every horse I have ever met embodies without effort.