Canadian-born Lindsey Hufnagel founded New York-based accessories brand Horse + Nail in 2009. Upon graduating from the Big Apple's Parsons The New School for Design, Hufnagel interned at a number of prestigious design houses, where she discovered a passion for leather bags. It was during an online hunt for the perfect horseshoe that she stumbled across a hackamore, a bitless bridle. This simple piece of horse tack inspired her first collection and is still a dominant feature in a number of the brand's pieces. The label's name was inspired by her surname, which in German means hoof ("huf") and nail ("nagel").
Hufnagel's pieces are dramatic but wearable. The soft buttery leather is offset by cool metal hardware and, unlike with other equestrian-inspired brands, the result is rock-chic rider rather than uptight polo player. Her urban chic-meets-cowgirl aesthetic is inspired by the artists, musicians and fashionistas of New York.
the Rider backpack (above left; US$875) is the answer to the big handbag trend of the season while the Hackney (top right; also US$875) promises to withstand the test of time. If you prefer something more dramatic, look no further than the spiked Hunter clutch (above right; US$540).
