By MARLEY LIEN-GONZALEZ
The Iconic family-founded and operated outfitting company, 5/A Baker, since 1866, has a long-standing influence in the horse industry that remains unwavering over 150 years later.
5/A Baker’s hugely successful brand endurance can be attributed to its devotion to customer service and always looking to the future.
A modern shift in focus to bridging classic equestrian style with practical, fashion-forward new products is 5/A Baker’s current and ongoing initiative to draw more people into the equine community and continue their tradition of excellence inside the barn and out.
Handbags and lifestyle clothing have joined their existing vast horseware collection, and a recent collaboration with riding apparel company Novella Equestrian made waves in the equine fashion sector. Baker’s Head of Content and Marketing Coordinator, Megan Aguiar, says, “Elegant, timeless, and vintage, the 5/A Baker plaid not only enhances the beauty that horses already have, but carries the association of horses wherever it’s worn.”
Their centuries unchanged trademark plaid print–embellished most famously on the brand’s origin, the 5/A Baker horse blanket–continues to represent the rich history of the sport and will remain an emblematic equestrian symbol for generations to come, thanks to exciting new creative direction.
While breathing new life into their pattern, balancing style and functionality in a growing line of products, one priority is at the center of it all: horses, and really, the customers who choose and trust 5/A.
“What is most important to us is making sure whoever is using and loving 5/A Baker products gets the best quality of whatever they have,” says Aguiar. Not just riders, but horse enthusiasts as well–a focus on being inclusive, and encouraging new people to find interest in the sport through the inspiration of fashion. “We’re creating products that aren’t just for the rider, but for the owners, the horse lovers, and the fans of the sport.”
Cultivated from a small family company to a colossal household name, 5/A Baker has perfected creating beautiful products that look good and feel even better. In 2019, 5/A Baker was acquired by Jacks Manufacturing, an equine-based global distributor with a principle of delivering the finest goods to the industry.
“The goal is products that go above and beyond satisfactory,” says Aguiar. As the brand expands to include more beyond the equestrian realm, it maintains its dedication to using the highest quality materials and craftsmanship so 5/A Baker customers never have to sacrifice comfort for appearance.
The 5/A Baker plaid is synonymous with horses after facing decades of recognition in the barns of hobbyists to Olympians. “There’s something so special about the plaid pattern that captures the eye. It’s truly an homage to the sport,” says Aguiar. “So much changes throughout the years, but Baker’s beauty and quality have stayed, as much it’s improving in this new era.”
