Denver International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market

We spent this weekend at WESA’s annual big show and we have a few stories to share, but before we go there, we have to explain WESA.

WESA stands for Western and English Sales Association, an organization formed in Denver in 1921 to bring together retailers and manufacturers in what the association describes as “a forum to conduct business in an atmosphere of fair trade and fellowship”. This forum is the Denver International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market.

Today WESA is the world’s largest trade event for the equestrian industry, bringing together almost a thousand manufacturers and distributors representing thousands of product lines and over 10,000 independent retailers in a market defining show.

The WESA Market is a sea of people, some having been members of the association for 30, 40 and even 50 years and others coming from a “bloodline” of association members, three generations deep. The program book for this year’s WESA Market is an astonishing 322 page long manual with articles about the organization and its members, content from participating manufacturers and pages upon pages indexing exhibitors, companies and product categories.

WESA is all things horse and cowboy and this is the one expectation that a visitor must keep in mind when attending the show. Big things here are hats and boots, tack and saddles, fashion and accessories and stable supplies. If it’s related to being a cowboy, the WESA Market will have it represented.

The show incorporates a lot of other industry related events, including seminars, demonstrations, a fashion show, themed parties and charity events. It’s easy to make a day of the show or a weekend or to attend and enjoy the entire five day show. Over the next few days we’ll touch on the highlights of our visit to the Denver International Western/English Apparel & Equipment Market.

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