By Lily Yampolsky
Walking the showgrounds anywhere in the world, riders can be seen wearing Parlanti boots at any level and in every discipline. After becoming a household name in Europe, Parlanti International brought its boots to North America.
Headed by President Francesco Iannelli and CEO Alan Greenstein, Parlanti continues to extend into all spheres of the equestrian community, making it the No. 1 show jumping boot in the sport.
Basing their headquarters in Wellington has given Parlanti International the opportunity to grow exponentially. With both a storefront in Wellington and a booth at the Winter Equestrian Festival, Parlanti has become an integral part of Wellington’s renowned equestrian community and the village itself. Wellington is the epicenter of all equestrian disciplines during the winter months, giving the brand the ability to quickly integrate into the North American market.
“There’s no other city in the world that attracts so many riders,” Iannelli said. “You have three different disciplines from show jumping and hunters, to dressage and polo. Parlanti is very famous for hunter and show jumping boots, and now we are expanding into the dressage market as well.”
Parlanti International’s brand is a well-known name in nearly every hunter and jumper barn. Iannelli has headed the Parlanti brand for many years, starting in Italy and then expanding to all of Europe and Asia. Iannelli saw an opportunity in North America for Parlanti to expand further, and he spearheaded Parlanti International in 2015.
Greenstein and Ianelli joined forces in 2016, and with Greenstein’s vast business experience, they quickly made Parlanti the top show jumping boot in the sport. Greenstein’s daughter, Leah, competed on the Wellington equestrian circuit, while Greenstein and his wife owned a law firm in Palm Beach that represented many equestrian athletes, giving him both the industry and equestrian experience to help grow the Parlanti International brand.
“It has just been a great friendship and partnership with Francesco,” Greenstein said. “Francesco focuses mainly on the sales front, and I’m really focused on the administrative and marketing side of the business. Our goal is to remain in the forefront of innovation and technology, resulting in the most comfortable and durable boot.”
Recently, Parlanti decided to expand its dressage offerings by creating the Evo ready-to-wear dressage boot, in addition to the company’s established custom and semi-custom dressage offerings.
Ridden in by top dressage athletes like Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver medalist Steffen Peters and Rio 2016 bronze medalist Kasey Perry-Glass, the Evo boot is quickly becoming a go-to for dressage riders across all levels. Peters likes the quality of Parlanti dressage boots. “They provide the best combination of comfort and rigid support for both the competition arena and daily training,” he said.
After more than a year in research, Parlanti International has taken the dressage world by storm in combining the tradition of a stiff dressage boot with the comfort the Parlanti brand is known for, culminating in the Evo ready-to-wear dressage boot. While Parlanti has specialized in the show jumping arena for more than 30 years, the creation of the new dressage boot is completely different than developing show jumping boots.
When producing a dressage stock boot, Iannelli explained the need to create a totally different fit and style than the show jumping models. “The legs, the muscle, the structure of the dressage rider’s boot is totally different from a jumper rider’s,” he said. “The fit is totally different.”
Established as a leader in the hunter/jumper circuit, Parlanti boots are being worn by the very best athletes on the hunter and jumper circuit. Two-time Olympian Kent Farrington, Tokyo silver medalist Jessica Springsteen, and world champion hunter rider and trainer Scott Stewart all choose the Parlanti International brand as their steadfast boots.
Top professionals trust that Parlanti boots will be made with the highest standards of craftsmanship and detail, while also enjoying the right-off-the-rack perfect fit. Parlanti boots are made to have virtually no break-in time, so riders can enjoy their new tall boots right away with no pain. Parlanti constantly experiments with new materials and technologies, so riders know they are getting the best possible boot design on the market. Athletes from pony divisions all the way to the international Grand Prix level feel confident in and trust Parlanti to manufacture tall boots with the best quality materials — from the leather, to the zipper, to the sole.
Generations of athletes recognize Parlanti International for its show jumping boots. With the addition of the new ready-to-wear dressage Evo boot, the firm is ready to dominate the dressage market as well. In 2022, Parlanti will continue to research new technology and styles, while keeping the traditional look of the beloved tall boot. Parlanti is perfectly situated to remain as the preferred choice for top athletes around the world, no matter the discipline.
For additional information about Parlanti International products, visit www.parlantiinternational.com.
