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California Riding Magazine • June, 2009 Curve Control |
Building on their reputation as the “problem solvers” of the equine industry, SmartPak’s latest mission has been to identify solutions for riders that help them to control their curves so they can compete with confidence. With the launch of their exclusive new SmartSlim™ product and the addition of the Fuller Fillies product line, they’ve done just that, further adding to their offering of rider apparel which has seen a dramatic expansion in the last year. SmartSlim, SmartPak’s slimming undergarment designed just for riders, helps riders control their curves. Inspired by stories from riders who weren’t happy with how they looked in breeches and tired of the age-old panty hose remedy, SmartPak set out to create a product that would allow riders of all shapes and sizes to feel comfortable and confident in their breeches. SmartPak VP of Purchasing, Melissa Hamlet, led the research and development of the SmartSlim undergarment. As an avid hunter/jumper rider, Melissa is familiar with the issues riders face when trying to look good and feel comfortable while wearing breeches or tights that do little to hide imperfections. “You want to wear something supportive under your breeches to smooth things out and control jiggle which, in turn, gives you more confidence in the show ring. The only solutions that work and are invisible under breeches are not designed for athletic purposes and are therefore hot, uncomfortable and not durable enough to last for more than a few uses.” With over a year in development, SmartPak gathered extensive feedback from riders before launching the product. “We used extensive customer feedback to fine tune the performance of SmartSlims and went through well over 50 versions until we finally got it right,” says Hamlet. “It simply had to meet a rider’s needs.” The final undergarment is a Smart design that slims the tummy, legs and rear while smoothing out unsightly bulges. They’re completely invisible even under white breeches and the company contends the undergarment is comfortable enough to wear all day long thanks to a no-roll waistband, and grippers on the calf to prevent riding up. SmartSlims are made of a four-way stretch material that’s moisture wicking and breathable, making the undergarment comfortable in hot climates and easy to pull on and off. Unlike traditional hosiery that’s prone to snags, runs and rips, the SmartSlim undergarment is designed to withstand repeated use. “Durability was key with the SmartSlim undergarment,” says Hamlet. “We didn’t want riders having to run out and replace the undergarment after every show, because it couldn’t withstand the intended use.” The company overcame a number of technical obstacles in the development of the product, and has applied for a U.S. patent covering the design. Fuller Fillies Already wildly popular in the U.K., Fuller Fillies offers a full line of riding apparel in plus sizes for fuller figured riders. SmartPak is the first equine catalog and retailer in the U.S. to offer the line. “The response from our customers has already been huge,” says Rebecca Minard, founder of SmartPak. “Riders in the U.S. are saying ‘finally!’ because they’ve been looking for products like these for a long time.” Designer and Managing Director of Fuller Fillies, Suzanne Wild, is equally excited about the new partnership. “Fuller Fillies Limited is delighted about our new partnership with SmartPak,” says Wild. “We were getting e-mails from American girls on a daily basis asking when our line would be available, and so we were thrilled when SmartPak contacted us about carrying the products.” SmartPak Equine made their debut in the equine health care market with their flagship innovation, the SmartPak™, providing name-brand supplements and pharmaceuticals in custom, daily-dose packages, and has since dramatically expanded their product line to include an ever growing list of riding apparel and horse tack and equipment, including the SmartPink™ Plaid line of products which support breast cancer research and the SmartBlue™ Plaid line of products, among others. SmartSlim is the latest product offered exclusively by SmartPak Equine. In other SmartPak news, the company has been named the Official Supplement Feeding System of the American Quarter Horse Association.
For more information on the SmartSlim line of undergarments or Fuller Fillies, visit the SmartPak Equine website at www.SmartPakEquine.com or call 800-461-8898. |
