‘’But it’s just a Legging’’ Designing with Purpose

Designing with Purpose: The Power of Panelling and Seam Placement in Women’s Apparel.

In high performance equestrian wear, every stitch serves a purpose. Beyond durability and function, clever panelling and seam placement are key to shaping, supporting, and enhancing the female form helping women feel confident, strong, and stylish both in and out of the saddle.

1. Waist Sculpting & Strategic Branding Placement
(See point 1 on image)
The seam and panelling placement at the back waistline is subtly contoured to sit at the most flattering point—just above the natural waist. This not only ensures the waistband stays in place during movement, but also accentuates the smallest part of the torso, creating a cinched and defined silhouette. Placing the branding here draws the eye upward, enhancing posture and elongating the body visually.

2. Curve-Enhancing Side Panel
(See point 2 on image)

For me the most important section with the most ability to illustrate and manipulate shape. This curved panel along the hip and glute line is more than a design detail it’s a sculpting tool, this back design panelling is the core of our tailoring and measurements between bottom waist seam to top of seat seam constructed uniquely so you know they are HH panels. Carefully positioned to follow the shape of the glute and upper thigh, it enhances natural curves while providing lift and structure. This seam sits at just the right angle to create a contoured, lifted effect, which flatters all body types and celebrates the feminine silhouette. Seat seams which set lower than this can offer an illusion of flat glutes. We would never set the top of the seat panel lower, and then double up long length at position 2, this gives the illusion of a flatter longer glute and unflattering. Position 2, never looks as good when the space in between both has to much length/excessive seams. 

🧵 Why Our Panelling Sets Us Apart
We intentionally design and place our HH panel lines to achieve a flattering, high performance fit that is exclusive to our brand. Unfortunately, we’ve seen our unique panelling approach replicated in mass produced, drop shipped leggings countless times over the years. Other versions typically feature a low-set seat area (where the silicone grip is applied), which can flatten the shape of the glutes rather than enhance them. Additionally, rather than one purposeful seam at point 2, massmarket designs often include an extra seam placed too high resulting in a less flattering silhouette.

By designing every product in-house from the ground up, we ensure that each seam serves both a technical and aesthetic purpose. Our panelling supports the body in motion, flatters the figure at rest, and reflects the quality, care, and integrity of HH Unique Equestrian’s commitment to thoughtful, rider-focused design.

🧵 Confidence in Every Detail
At the heart of exceptional women’s design lies the understanding that clothing is more than fabric it’s a second skin. Seam and panel design is a quiet but powerful way to enhance confidence, offering support and flattery without compromising comfort or movement.

🧵 “It’s just a legging” ? But Not Ours.

At HH Unique Equestrian, we design every product from the ground up, literally. When people say “it’s just a legging,” we see it as a chance to educate and elevate. Our leggings aren’t bought from generic stock catalogs or drop shipped with a logo added which sadly has become a normal exercise, reducing the trust on other brands which truly have a thoughtful thorough design process. Every seam, panel, and material choice is the result of months of in-house development, rider testing, and intentional design refinement.

Where stock leggings follow a one-shape-fits-all model, ours are engineered to contour the female form, support athletic movement, and deliver confidence in and out of the saddle. From waist shaping to seam placement to glute-enhancing panels, nothing is off the shelf everything is purpose-built.

So no, it’s not just a legging. It’s a garment designed to work with your body, not against it. One that understands the demands of real riders and celebrates the strength, curves, and confidence of women who do it all.

And lastly, it makes you Unique! Why should you have to walk around with the same product everyone has but with a different logo added? You shouldn’t, it’s not what you pay for. We are not called HH Unique for nothing. 🪡 

Much love, Stacey & Team x