How We Make Mens Distressed Leather Belts
Distressed leather belts are a trending style right now, and it is easy to understand why. They are just as versatile as other types of belts out there, but they have a unique style that sets them apart. They are perfect for a laid-back casual looking wardrobe. In this blog post, we will explain what distressed leather is, why it's so enticing, and take you through the process of making our signature distressed leather.
Stone Fractal 2.0 Buckle on Leather Belt
Black Ops Fractal 2.0 Buckle on Leather Belt
What is distressed leather?
Distressed leather is new leather that goes through a tanning process to make it look like vintage leather. The term "distressed" refers to a process where different techniques like sanding, scraping, and various tanning treatments are applied to enhance the natural markings on the cowhide. Distressing the leather softens the belt, giving you a better experience and comfortable worn-in feel from the very first day.
Distressing can leave the original color intact, or it can create an aged appearance with colors ranging from light brown to dark black. It's a great way to make new leather look like vintage leather with a distinct leather patina that usually only comes from years of use. The result of the distressing process is an uneven texture with no two pieces looking alike. Distressing yields a more unique material for handmade products, unlike embossed leather which makes a uniform pattern.
How is distressed leather made?
Every leather tannery has a secret recipe to make distressed leather, and the results will vary based on the quality of the rawhides. We worked closely with our local tannery in Milwaukee as we developed our signature distressed leather. We chose to make a grey color because it is a less common color for belts but versatile enough to work with almost any outfit for any pant size.
Choosing the right cut of leather
We start with a raw double butt cowhide. In our experience, this type of leather hide yields the best and most durable leather belts. It has an even thickness throughout, and the more rectangular shape means less waste. The cowhides go through the tannery's "secret sauce" vegetable tanning process to get to the soft grey color that we wanted. After that, they could go one of two directions - leave them as-is to make full-grain leather or continue with the distressing process.
Check out our other article if you're interested in learning more about the best types of leather for belts.
Distressing Time
The tanned hides are distressed by a specialty machine usually used to make suede. Since our hides are full-grain leather until this point - not the soft, stretchy undercut material suede is typically made of - the distressing process yields a much different result. The machine is like a giant sander that gently runs over the surface of the leather, lightly scuffing and scratching. The finished leather hides look fifty years older and are ready to make vintage-style belts.
Transforming leather hides into vintage leather belts
The variations in color and texture are more visible after we hand cut each belt strap. Some pieces are lighter, some darker. The cow's natural scars and wrinkles shine through to give every leather belt a unique character. At this point, we cut the leather into 1.5" width casual men's belts or 1.25" width dress belts.
Pairing a cool belt buckle with a distressed leather belt
We make several cool belt buckles that perfectly complement the vintage feel of our signature grey distressed belt straps. Grey leather is gender-neutral and can be used for men's belts and women's belts. Personally, we love to wear our belts with jeans and a t-shirt, but feel free to get creative and wear them however you like!
Your search for a vintage-style leather belt is over!
If you're shopping for a new belt built to last or just the perfect gift for him, we have some great options in our distressed leather belts collection. Head over to our shop to browse all of the high-quality leather belts we make. If you don't see your size, give us your waist measurement. We have detailed instructions for measuring your waist size and would be happy to make your leather belt in a custom size.
We offer free shipping on any US order over $100 and fast shipping options to the UK and Europe.