10
things
by Emily Pollard
The
…you might not know about…
Zuccolotto Sisters
The story behind the Zuccolotto brand is a tale of two sisters, Chiara and Ariana Zuccolotto. The two grew up as best friends, and bonded over a shared love of horses and competing. Their family was wonderfully supportive, but was not willing to buy the sisters expensive, made horses. So Chiara and Ariana made their own horses with the help of several trusted trainers, and enjoyed the training process as much as being in the winner’s circle. This determined, entrepreneurial attitude soon influenced their professional lives. Chiara was just barely out of college when she asked Ariana (who was still in high school at the time) to join her in starting Zuccolotto, a designer brand with an equestrian focus. Ariana agreed, and they spent the summer of 2014 on the floor of their apartment – surrounded by fabric swatches, color palettes, scissors, and the like – crafting their first show coat. The Zuccolotto line started with three hunt coats that were painstakingly and lovingly made. Painstakingly made because they were two young girls working in a cut-throat industry, and lovingly made because the sisters extensively tested these coats so only the best fit, feel and look would make it to their customers. The result is a line of beautiful and well-made hunt coats. And that is just the beginning. To help bring their brand to market, Ariana started an ambassador program that partnered with talented, hardworking riders. Ambassadors get the benefit of representing the brand, and Zuccolotto makes a big effort to promote its riders. Chiara and Ariana have worked diligently to grow Zuccolotto the last three years, and they have big plans for the future. Chiara just returned from Paris, where she was studying couture techniques that she will apply to the next line, and Ariana is getting ready to manage Zuccolotto’s expansion into non-equestrian high-fashion. These sisters are amazing individuals, but together, they are unstoppable.
1.
The sisters are a strong team because they each have a special skill set – Chiara takes the creative role, while Ariana takes the logical, businessoriented role.
6.
The Zuccolotto logo is a combination of both their profiles – an inside joke between them because they have been told their whole lives that they look like twins.
2.
They made their first Zuccolotto prototypes right at home – and their mom ironed each one with an industrial iron.
7.
They specially design most of the finishes, and even created a specific zipper that has a locking mechanism so it stays closed while riding.
3.
In the beginning, if they couldn’t afford to hire a professional, they quickly learned the skill and did the work themselves. This can-do attitude is how Ariana became the main photographer for the brand.
8.
When the sisters need inspiration, they head to the Vogue archives – they love incorporating vintage looks from the ‘20s, ‘40s and ‘50s.
4.
The sisters are big believers in charity work, so Zuccolotto partnered with Agape International Missions (AIM). A portion of the proceeds from a Zuccolotto coat purchased from an ambassador will be donated to AIM.
9.
They both ride and have competed in the 1.20 and 1.25 meter classes.
10.
Both have big riding goals, and want to compete at the World Cup™ one day. But they stress that they only want to go if they can go together, because they are, of course, a “package deal!”
5.
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AIM helps sex trafficking survivors by relocating them to a safe environment, and teaching them occupational skills, so they can live a full life.
· september/october
Photo © Vinciane Lebrun-Verguethen