Last week, the show jumping world was pleasantly surprised by the announcement of a new partnership between Hermès and the United States Show Jumping Team. H&S was invited to attend the official announcement and celebration of the partnership, held in one of Wellington, Florida’s poshest barns, that of Tim Gredley’s Unex Competition Stables. The spectacular stone clad barn with its polished entrance and lion motifs was flanked by rows of lanterns  and waiters in black tie holding trays of champagne – not your usual barn entrance at all! Guests were welcomed into the foyer of the barn, which housed all of the items that USEF team horses and riders will be sporting for the foreseeable future.

True to the house of Hermès, every detail was top notch and presented in high style. Most guests included a touch of Hermès to their outfits, including us! Waiters circled through the crowd offering caviar and decedent trays of oysters. The best part of the evening was the timeless collection of Hermès pieces from throughout the fashion house’s history, displayed in lucite  cases. Our personal favorite was the saddle bag from 1912, that gave way to the iconic “Birkin” bag. The collection was narrated in a special presentation that told the history of Hermès and the horse. The key words that stood out were “beauty and elegance” (say it in a French accent, it sounds amazing!)

The special Hermès touches on all of the team outfits will take the US Show Jumping Team to a whole new level of style. From the gold Hermès logo buttons to the subtle details in trim and fabric, the collection is sure to put the US on the fashion map for international competitions. A major improvement and an exciting partnership!