Handmade Leather Belts By Oakside Saddlery

MEASURING FOR THE PERFECT FIT!

There are two ways that you can measure to achieve that exact fit. Either from an existing belt, or by measuring your own waist. Don't forget that a belt is not your trouser size and it may be more than you think as the belt sits over the top of your trousers. 

Existing Belt.

Take a belt that fits you well and measure from where the buckle pin meets the buckle (on the inner edge) to the hole that you usually use to do the belt up with.

Waist Measurement

Simply measure around your waist where the belt will sit and at the tightness you require.

My Belt measurements 

The length of belt that you order will be the length from the buckle pin to the middle hole on the belt. This will allow two holes either side to make adjustments. The overall length of the belt varies depending on the belts width. As a rule each hole is the width of the belt apart.

Unfortunately no refunds can be given due to inaccurate measuring on your part.

Why choose Oakside Saddlery for your Handmade Leather Belt?

So you have been looking for a handmade leather belt. There are many available from really cheap ones – to really expensive ones, and I mean really expensive, even some made from human skin!

So why would you choose one of my handmade leather belts?

Maybe it is just because you like to support UK small business? Maybe it is the truly handmade quality that you want? Whatever the reason, I would like to think that you choose to buy a leather belt from Oakside because you like the look and quality of my work!

I am trained as a Cordwainer (someone who works with leather). I use traditional saddlery methods to make a handmade leather belt to a standard that far surpasses shop bought leather belts.

The Best in British Bridle Leather is supplied by Sedgwick & Co.

Established in 1900 supplying leather, and 120 years later they still provide the finest equestrian leather around the world.

The quintessential attributes of Sedgwick's leather are;

• Visual Appearance,
• Endurance,
• Resilience, and
• Fundamental characteristics of true quality

For buckles I use Abbey England.

http://abbeyengland.com/

Founded in 1982 and based in Knutsford, Cheshire with a foundry in Walsall. Abbey England was awarded a Royal Warrant in 1995 for their quality goods manufactured in the UK foundry. I also buy all of my tools, thread, and dyes used to make my leather belts from Abbey England.

So now I have the best quality British materials - top quality leather, and the best British buckles. Now the work comes down to me.

When you order your handmade leather belt I ask for a length measurement. This is the length your handmade leather belt will be from the buckle to the middle hole. So rather than just getting an off-the-peg belt which might buckle up on the last hole with around 10 holes punched through it, or on the first hole with a foot of leather that needs to be tucked in somewhere! You will have a belt that is made to measure and will fit you perfectly. A small amount of leather to tuck in to your first belt loop and two holes either side making your belt look great.

The buckle is stitched by hand to the handmade leather belt. I use linen thread and double hand stitch. This means that each thread passes through the leather and makes a complete stitch, unlike machine stitching which interlocks the stitches in the middle of the leather. This means that on any  one side is the same length of thread, break one stitch and you break them all!  Double hand stitching uses two needles to stitch with, each stitch crosses inside the leather before moving on to the next one. This makes for a much stronger and more reliable stitch than machine stitching.

The other noticeable difference with my handmade Leather Belts is that the stitching runs along the length of the leather and not across it. By stitching along the length the strength and integrity of the leather is maintained. It takes a lot longer to do but is better in the long run! Stitching across the length is essentially making a perforation across the leather belt, weakening the leather and making a potential failure point!

So there you have it. In summary the reasons for buying a Handmade Leather Belt from Oakside are;

• Top selection Full Grain English Bridle leather.

• Solid brass, stainless steel or plated buckles and fittings. Abbey England now offer a variety of plating options.

• Handmade in the UK.

• Traditional hand stitching methods.

• Made-to-measure.

• Custom Designs.

• Choose your own buckle.

• Leather and Buckles made and finished in the UK.

• Free UK delivery

• Secure PayPal payment

• A selection of standard designs.