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Saddle up: Export success for artisan accessory maker

12:54 02/01/2018
From stable accessories to showjumping equipment, Dy’on is a world leader

From the rustic village of Durnal, near Namur, former blacksmith Philippe Dion has grown an equestrian empire. Among his superstar clientele he counts Belgian showjumper Grégory Wathelet, French film director Guillaume Canet, Arab sheiks and a host of international showjumpers and celebrities.

It was after crafting his own leather chaps as an impoverished horse rider that Dion was inspired to launch his own artisan business.

In 1989, he abandoned his riding career and founded Dy’on, first employing his sewing teacher aunt to make customised chaps, the leather coverings and buckles that protect riders’ legs. As orders increased, more staff joined the company, which diversified into making other accessories. Dion invested in specialised equipment and started working with stores and wholesalers, and business boomed further when Dion took stands at equestrian events.

Today, the company is a market leader. Ten seamstresses are responsible for the production of chaps from an atelier in Durnal, while a factory in India makes bridles, employing around 300 people. Each piece is designed by Dion, tested on horses and guaranteed for life.

The administrative, commercial and logistical part of the business is run from the nearby village of Assesse, where 12 people work. Turnover is around €5 million and is increasing by 15 to 25% each year. Dy’on’s products, which include textiles for horses and their riders, are sold in 48 countries.

Written by Sarah Crew