It’s not difficult to tell where Pearl Brown’s interests lie. Her Country Connection clothing store features almost everything anybody could want related to horses, from clothing to riding gear, to equine related board games.
“We’re a niche business for country women who like horses,” said Pearl Brown, one of the partners in the Saskatoon store.
Brown has had an interest in horse-themed clothing for 20 years, ever since she started custom sewing outfits for horse shows and country weddings. Earlier she set up a western clothing store in another location but when she met up with her partner, Kathy Wright, they decided to hitch up their fashion and horse interests in a bigger enterprise.
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Brown, whose hobby now is driving with her pair of black Canadian horses, grew up on a farm and always loved horses. Wright also was raised on a farm and had horses around.
“My kids had horses. They grew up and I kept on riding. Now I drive,” said Brown.
The store keeps in touch with the horse world by sponsoring 4-H and pony clubs and staging fashion shows at selected horse shows. The store is also promoting learn-to-drive horse taught by Brown’s husband at their 80-acre acre farm.
She said girls are fascinated with horses but couldn’t say why, other than to note it’s a mystical attraction. Boys treat a horse more as a working object, she said.
The store offers rural women “fashion for the way she lives,” said Brown. “Denims – but with a bit of sparkle to dress up and go from country to the city.”
While women want the casual elegance, Brown said they also want practical clothes they can wear for chores and riding. For example, glove manufacturers will make a women’s glove based on the man’s version but the fingertips are too long or the wrist is too short.
“Women have had to buy a large boys or small men’s chore outfits but they’re too long in the leg. How do you cut off a zipper?”
With requests from her customers and suggestions from Brown and Wright, their manufacturer suppliers are starting to send them better designed gear.
Brown demonstrates a hat that is thin but warm and can go under a riding helmet to provide warmth, not bulk. She is testing a glove sample that has super Thinsulate lining. But she finds some jackets are still not warm enough for the prairie winter.
“If you’re shoveling shit you’ll stay warm, but if you’re sitting on a horse ….”
Brown noted that quality is a big part of her store’s clothing. The
T-shirts have sequins that won’t fall off and the cotton is thick and stretchy for comfort and made to last, she said.
Tailoring is another demand from her customers.
Brown said the fashion for spring 2008 is “a little retro” with less glitz and more subtlety with brocade or embroidery.
Spring and Christmas are the store’s busiest times as people set up for the show season or look at buying gifts. The festive season is also when men tend to come in to shop.
Brown said the store not only stocks clothes but also has riding and driving gear and equine-themed art, jewelry, gift and home decor in different corners of the 180 sq. metre store.
For more information, contact Country Connection at 306-978-3092.
