{{Short description|American equestrian apparel brand}} {{Infobox company | name = Ariat International, Inc. | logo = Ariat Logo.png | logo_size = 125px | type = Private | founder = Beth Cross, Pam Parker | foundation = 1993 | location = San Leandro, California, United States | area_served = Worldwide | industry = Sportswear | products = Riding boots<br/>Cowboy boots<br/>Work boots | homepage = [http://www.ariat.com/ www.ariat.com] }}
'''Ariat''' is an American footwear, apparel and accessories brand for equestrian sports, work industries and other outdoor activities, located in San Leandro, California. Ariat was launched by Beth Cross and Pam Parker in 1993. It has since become a popular brand in performance footwear for English and Western horseback riding. As of 2023, Ariat is the largest equestrian sports brand in the world.
==History== Ariat was founded in 1993 by Stanford Business School classmates Beth Cross and Pam Parker.<ref name="Stanford"/> While working for Bain & Company and consulting to Reebok, the co-founders saw an opportunity to apply athletic shoe technology to English and Western riding boots. They named their new company after Secretariat, the famous Triple Crown champion racehorse in honor of his "huge heart and competitive spirit".<ref>{{cite web|title=Ariat brand named after Secretariat|url=https://pbr.com/news/2023/05/the-smartest-thing-to-do-at-world-finals-might-just-be-running-a-race-in-ariat-boots|website=Professional Bull Riders |access-date=May 9, 2023}}</ref> The same year it was founded, Ariat released its first two boot styles, then went on to hire a number of equestrians and horse enthusiasts.<ref name="SF">{{cite web|author=Hahn, Esther|url=https://sf.racked.com/2015/3/27/8296781/what-the-team-at-ariat-wears-to-work|title=What the Team at Ariat Wears to Work|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=27 March 2015|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> In the years following the company's launch, it expanded into new performance western and English apparel, as well as workwear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.outsideonline.com/2272376/rise-work-wear|title=The Rise of Work Wear|publisher=Outsideonline.com|date=8 January 2018|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> The company also expanded its distribution in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Mexico, and Japan.<ref name="usef18">{{cite web|url=https://www.usef.org/media/press-releases/ariat-expands-partnership-with-us-equestrian|title=Ariat Expands Partnership with US Equestrian|publisher=USEF|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref>
In 2009, Ariat became the official boot sponsor of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pbr.com/news/2009/06/ariat-becomes-pbr-s-newest-corporate-partner/|title=Ariat Becomes PBR's Newest Corporate Partner|date=11 June 2009|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> In 2015, Ariat signed a sponsorship deal with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.horsetalk.co.nz/2015/04/19/ariat-fei-sponsorship-deal/|title=Ariat foots it with the FEI in new sponsorship deal |publisher=Horsetalk.co.nz|date=19 April 2015|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> In 2017, Ariat joined partners with the non-profit Jared Allen's Homes For Wounded Warriors, an organization which builds homes for injured war veterans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://stablemanagement.com/industry-news-information/ariat-partners-jared-allens-homes-wounded-warriors|title=Ariat Partners with Jared Allen's Homes For Wounded Warriors|publisher=Stablemanagement.com|date=28 May 2017|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref>
In 2018, Ariat announced that they were continuing their partnership with the US Equestrian Federation (USEF),<ref name="usef18"/> and Cross was awarded "Entrepreneur of the Year" in the Consumer Driven category by Ernst & Young.<ref name="Stanford">{{cite web|url=https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/alumni/contact/alumni-association/about-alumni/elizabeth-cross|title=Elizabeth Cross, MBA '88|publisher=Stanford Business School|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> As of 2020, Ariat is reportedly the largest equestrian footwear and apparel company in the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://westernwomen.com/wwom-beth-cross/|title=WWOM: Beth Cross|date=29 July 2019 |publisher=Westernwomen.com|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref>
==Product design== Ariat manufactures boots in the United States, Mexico, Asia and Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/josephdeacetis/2020/05/05/the-american-cowboy-boot-makes-a-great-comeback/#72f0389d56d7|title=The American Cowboy Boot Makes A Great Comeback|work=Forbes|date=5 May 2020|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> Co-founder Beth Cross worked with biomechanical research groups and testing labs in the making of Ariat's boots,<ref name="Agnew">{{cite web|author=Agnew, Danny|url=https://www.insidehook.com/article/shoes/ariat-is-the-dopest-boot-company-youve-never-heard-of|title=Ariat Is the Dopest Boot Company You've Never Heard Of|publisher=InsideHook|date=29 April 2009|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref> which are designed to be durable in outdoor environments.
In 2006, the firm ventured into making western apparel, including woven shirts, tops and outdoor clothing for men and women.<ref name="dd">{{cite web |date=4 February 2018 |title=An Ariat Story |url=https://www.ddtexasoutfitters.com/blog/an-ariat-story |accessdate=25 August 2020 |publisher=D&D Texas Outfitters}}</ref> The clothing incorporates flame-resistant technology, which came into demand from the oil workers of Colorado.<ref>{{cite web|author=Boyce, Dan|url=https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/inside-energy-oilfield-towns-boom-flame-resistant-clothing#stream/0|title=Inside Energy: In Oilfield Towns, A Boom In Flame Resistant Clothing|publisher=Wyoming Public Media|date=24 July 2015|accessdate=25 August 2020}}</ref>
==Sponsorship== Ariat sponsors several athletes who specialize in rodeo, reining, and English riding.<ref>{{cite web|title=Western Athletes|url=https://www.ariat.com/western-athletes|website=Ariat|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=English Athletes|url=https://www.ariat.com/english-athletes|website=Ariat|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref>
Ariat is the official footwear, western apparel and workwear sponsor of the Professional Bull Riders (PBR), and the title sponsor of the Ariat World Series of Team Roping (WSTR), the largest adult community of roping athletes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pbr.com/sponsors/|title=Professional Bull Riders - National Partners|publisher=Professional Bull Riders|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref>
Ariat is featured in the 2015 movie ''The Longest Ride'', a Nicholas Sparks film about a PBR athlete who is making his way back in bull riding after a life-threatening injury.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://footwearnews.com/2015/influencers/uncategorized/ariat-boots-to-star-in-the-longest-ride-on-scott-eastwood-16574/ |title=Ariat Boots to Star on Scott Eastwood in 'The Longest Ride' |first=Barbara |last=Schneider-Levy|date=9 March 2015 |publisher=Footwear News}}</ref>
Ariat is the official boot and apparel sponsor of the Texas Rattlers and Florida Freedom, two of 10 bull riding teams in the PBR Team Series held every summer through autumn in the United States since 2022.<ref>{{cite web|title=Texas Rattlers|url=https://www.ariat.com/texasrattlers|website=Ariat|access-date=June 27, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Florida Freedom ink Ariat, Eli's Western Wear as official team partners for 2024 season|url=https://pbr.com/news/2024/07/florida-freedom-ink-ariat-elis-western-wear-as-official-team-partners-for/|website=Professional Bull Riders|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref>
Ariat is an official sponsor of the National High School Rodeo Association (NHSRA).<ref>{{cite web|title=National Sponsors|url=https://www.nhsra.com/national-sponsors/|website=National High School Rodeo Association|access-date=August 28, 2025}}</ref>
Since 2024, Ariat has sponsored San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brock Purdy & Ariat|url=https://www.ariat.com/al/stagecoach?srsltid=AfmBOopwiQPsBOUsqxeQQcxhmU6fQVcdwPPwGJ6fUAoZq0Wc9huucG1L|website=Ariat|access-date=August 30, 2025}}</ref>
In 2025, Ariat became the official boot sponsor of the Stagecoach country music festival.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Official Boot of Stagecoach 2025: Get Festival-Ready with Ariat|url=https://www.ariat.com/al/stagecoach?srsltid=AfmBOopwiQPsBOUsqxeQQcxhmU6fQVcdwPPwGJ6fUAoZq0Wc9huucG1L|access-date=August 30, 2025}}</ref>
In July 2025, it was announced that Ariat became official partner of English rugby union teams Gloucester Rugby and Gloucester–Hartpury.<ref>{{cite web |title=Performance apparel brand, Ariat, partners with both Gloucester Rugby & Gloucester Hartpury |url=https://gloucesterrugby.co.uk/content/performance-apparel-brand-ariat-partners-with-both-gloucester-rugby-gloucester-hartpury |website=Gloucester Rugby |access-date=17 July 2025 |date=17 July 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Shoe brands Category:Clothing companies established in 1990 Category:Private equity portfolio companies Category:Companies based in Alameda County, California Category:Shoe companies of the United States Category:Jeans by brand
==External links== * [https://www.ariat.com/ Official website]