Recently young dressage talent Alexa Fairchild launched her new website. Equnews had a little talk with the 21-year old half-Belgian, half-American rider. She told us a little bit more about her combination of sport and fashion, family, her big dream and her new young horse. You launched your new website. That comes with some new steps. You are going to combine the sport with fashion? Tell us what are you going to do and how did you come to this idea? Yes, I will combine the sport with fashion. We will be designing a very small collection that will be influenced by the equestrian sport. We would like to create something that is sporty-chic. Garments that are wearable for the sport and attractive for the urban environment. I would like people from all different backgrounds to relate to the clothing, but at the same time I would like it to be different and new. Since I share two passions: fashion and equestrian, I wanted to create something around these two worlds. Launching a clothing line was the perfect match. How will you make sure the public know about your fashion line and where can we buy it? I think that we will throw al launch party for the brand when it is ready. It will be announced everywhere on my social media accounts and on my website. Of course, we will roll out a comprehensive communications campaign to “spread the word”. We plan to primarily focus on e-commerce - on my own website and on other e-commerce sites - but will also sell the brand through some multi-brand stores – in both the equestrian and fashion worlds - in order to get the brand known. You're not the only one in your family active in the fashion world? No, My paternal grandfather worked in the fashion publishing industry and both my parents worked extensively in fashion. My grandfather created W magazine and turned the family trade newspaper WWD into what it is today. He loved to gossip about the fashion industry in his days. Both my parents worked for multiple companies in the fashion industry such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and others. Which role does your family play in your decision to start in the fashion industry? We decided as a family to start this clothing line. As both my parents had already worked for several years in the fashion industry and, I am just taking my first steps in it, we thought that this could be a fun family project that could also do well! On your site you have a banner with "Every dream begins with a dreamer" on, what is the dream that you want to realize? My ultimate dream is to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I know how difficult it will be and how much time and dedication it will take to try and get there but I am motivated and would like to give it my best shot. In the more short term, I would love to try to make it on the Belgian team for the WEG which were just awarded to Tryon in the USA. It would mean so much to me to compete on American soil, at such an important event, being that I am half American! Which horses do you have in mind to make that dream come true? We are looking for a GP horse at the moment and hope to find a horse that would have the quality to take me to the highest level. Sunrise is showing some very promising potential for the GP movements. Vanita (Newton) is a good stepping stone to reach that dream. He is a super partner to help me learn and perfect the Grand Prix movements. You're training for a half year now with Anky and Sjef. How did this period go and how did you experience this period? I train with Anky. It has been incredible so far. I have learned so much and I still have a lot to learn. I am confident that training with Anky will teach me all the necessary skills to be able to perform at the highest level. I am very excited to have the opportunity to train with such a talented mentor and have Anky by my side to see me through the successes and failures on my journey to fulfil my dream. You have a young horse as well. Can you tell us a little bit more about her? Ida Selly A is a 3 year old mare. She is absolutely adorable. She is super social and affectionate. She is a black beauty. At the moment, she is just being saddle broken. She seems to be advancing at a nice pace and we are focusing on building her confidence. We aren’t in any hurry with her – we want to take our time and ensure that she develops nicely both physically and mentally. I am very excited to see what she will turn into. It is all very promising indeed so far! visit the new website here.
Recently young dressage talent Alexa Fairchild launched her new website. Equnews had a little talk with the 21-year old half-Belgian, half-American rider. She told us a little bit more about her combination of sport and fashion, family, her big dream and her new young horse. You launched your new website. That comes with some new steps. You are going to combine the sport with fashion? Tell us what are you going to do and how did you come to this idea? Yes, I will combine the sport with fashion. We will be designing a very small collection that will be influenced by the equestrian sport. We would like to create something that is sporty-chic. Garments that are wearable for the sport and attractive for the urban environment. I would like people from all different backgrounds to relate to the clothing, but at the same time I would like it to be different and new. Since I share two passions: fashion and equestrian, I wanted to create something around these two worlds. Launching a clothing line was the perfect match. How will you make sure the public know about your fashion line and where can we buy it? I think that we will throw al launch party for the brand when it is ready. It will be announced everywhere on my social media accounts and on my website. Of course, we will roll out a comprehensive communications campaign to “spread the word”. We plan to primarily focus on e-commerce - on my own website and on other e-commerce sites - but will also sell the brand through some multi-brand stores – in both the equestrian and fashion worlds - in order to get the brand known. You're not the only one in your family active in the fashion world? No, My paternal grandfather worked in the fashion publishing industry and both my parents worked extensively in fashion. My grandfather created W magazine and turned the family trade newspaper WWD into what it is today. He loved to gossip about the fashion industry in his days. Both my parents worked for multiple companies in the fashion industry such as Valentino, Giorgio Armani, Ralph Lauren and others. Which role does your family play in your decision to start in the fashion industry? We decided as a family to start this clothing line. As both my parents had already worked for several years in the fashion industry and, I am just taking my first steps in it, we thought that this could be a fun family project that could also do well! On your site you have a banner with "Every dream begins with a dreamer" on, what is the dream that you want to realize? My ultimate dream is to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I know how difficult it will be and how much time and dedication it will take to try and get there but I am motivated and would like to give it my best shot. In the more short term, I would love to try to make it on the Belgian team for the WEG which were just awarded to Tryon in the USA. It would mean so much to me to compete on American soil, at such an important event, being that I am half American! Which horses do you have in mind to make that dream come true? We are looking for a GP horse at the moment and hope to find a horse that would have the quality to take me to the highest level. Sunrise is showing some very promising potential for the GP movements. Vanita (Newton) is a good stepping stone to reach that dream. He is a super partner to help me learn and perfect the Grand Prix movements. You're training for a half year now with Anky and Sjef. How did this period go and how did you experience this period? I train with Anky. It has been incredible so far. I have learned so much and I still have a lot to learn. I am confident that training with Anky will teach me all the necessary skills to be able to perform at the highest level. I am very excited to have the opportunity to train with such a talented mentor and have Anky by my side to see me through the successes and failures on my journey to fulfil my dream. You have a young horse as well. Can you tell us a little bit more about her? Ida Selly A is a 3 year old mare. She is absolutely adorable. She is super social and affectionate. She is a black beauty. At the moment, she is just being saddle broken. She seems to be advancing at a nice pace and we are focusing on building her confidence. We aren’t in any hurry with her – we want to take our time and ensure that she develops nicely both physically and mentally. I am very excited to see what she will turn into. It is all very promising indeed so far! visit the new website here.