# Ariat International

> Ariat International is a Union City, California footwear and apparel company founded in 1993 that applied athletic-shoe technology to riding boots and grew into the world's largest equestrian sports brand. Today it designs performance boots, western wear, workwear and flame-resistant gear for riders, ranchers, tradespeople and outdoor enthusiasts, sold globally through retailers and direct-to-consumer channels.

- **Founded:** 1993
- **Headquarters:** Union City, California, United States
- **Founders:** Beth Cross (Co-Founder & CEO), Pam Parker (Co-Founder)
- **Team size:** Roughly 1,600 employees (third-party estimate; 1,000-5,000 range)
- **Products:** Equestrian footwear & apparel, Western boots & apparel, Work boots & workwear, Flame-resistant (FR) workwear, ATS Technology footbeds
- **Notable:** Grew from a 1993 startup into the world's largest equestrian sports brand (as of 2023)., Pioneered athletic-technology footbeds (ATS) and stability shanks in riding boots., Co-founder Beth Cross named EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Consumer Driven category (2018).

## Products & services

- **Equestrian footwear & apparel** — Performance English and western riding boots, tall boots, paddock boots and riding apparel engineered with stability shanks and cushioned footbeds; the category that launched the company.
- **Western boots & apparel** — Cowboy boots, western fashion boots, jeans, shirts and hats blending heritage styling with performance construction.
- **Work boots & workwear** — Safety-toe and non-safety work boots plus durable workwear built to ASTM standards, using Work 4LR insoles and DuraTread outsoles.
- **Flame-resistant (FR) workwear** — Flame-resistant apparel and safety footwear for industrial, energy and trade environments.
- **ATS Technology footbeds** — Advanced Torque Stability footbed system, adapted from athletic-shoe design, that reduces foot fatigue and improves stability.
- **Outdoor & lifestyle footwear** — Casual, outdoor and lifestyle boots and shoes for everyday and recreational use.

## Achievements

- Grew from a 1993 startup into the world's largest equestrian sports brand (as of 2023).
- Pioneered athletic-technology footbeds (ATS) and stability shanks in riding boots.
- Co-founder Beth Cross named EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Consumer Driven category (2018).
- Official footwear partner across PBR, FEI, US Equestrian and Stagecoach.
- Announced a $72.6M expansion of its Fort Worth regional headquarters and distribution, adding 250 jobs (2025).
- Opened its largest retail store at Mall of America (2026).

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — S&S Activewear added Ariat to its brand portfolio to expand distribution across workwear, western and outdoor-inspired apparel.
- **2026-05** — Ariat opened its largest store at the Mall of America.
- **2025-12** — Announced a $72.6M expansion of its Fort Worth regional headquarters and distribution operations, creating 250 jobs.
- **2025-04** — Expanded strategic partnership with US Equestrian for elite competitive riders.

## Links

- Website: https://ariat.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/ariat-international
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Ariat
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/AriatInternational
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ariat
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/AriatInternational
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ariat

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/ariat-international
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-26