About Buckle

Our Story

Crafting Australian Heritage Since 1922

At Buckle, we craft premium Australian made belts, braces, and accessories with over 100 years of expertise. Since 1922, our dedication to local craftsmanship and superior quality has made us a trusted name across Australia. Each handcrafted piece honours traditional techniques passed down by our skilled craftspeople, ensuring every accessory tells a story of timeless style and Australian heritage. By preserving these time-honoured skills, we're keeping Australia's artisan traditions alive for the next generation.

Our Journey Through Time

1922

Buckle was founded in 1922 in Surry Hills by Sandy Buckle, his son Alick, and Alick's best friend Lawford Richardson. The business began by importing women's undergarments such as boning for corsets and clothing. Sandy and Alick possessed the motivation and business savvy, while Lawford was a skilled accountant, which made Buckle a powerful force.

During this time, the Australian manufacturing industry was still relatively young but was prospering. The end of the First World War brought optimism both for consumers and industry, and the post-war boom in the world economy meant new opportunities for Australian manufacturers.

1925

Buckle was called 'A. Buckle & Son', in the hope that Alick would have a son. Soon after, Alick's daughter, Peggy, was born. All leather and elastic were sourced locally in surrounding suburbs such as Tempe and Chatswood to service Buckle's Surry Hills factory on 414 Elizabeth St, Sydney.

1929

Alick became the Mayor of Mosman and was well-regarded in the local community. His plaque appears at the foot of Bathers Pavilion on Balmoral Beach recognising his service to the community as well as acknowledging his commitment to the beautification of this region.

1940s

The business started crafting leather belts to meet the changing demands of fashion.

1960s

The early stages of globalisation began with production and manufacturing shifting offshore. It was in 1960 when Buckle started its relationship with a Belgian elastic maker. Buckle began to produce braces in a range of stripes and colours and in widths of 25mm and 30mm.

1965

Alick Buckle passed away in 1965. His daughter, Peggy inherited the business and alongside her husband, Rex, they managed the business together.

1968

A. Buckle & Son had been duly elected a full member of the Chamber of Manufacturers of NSW. The factory moved from Surry Hills to Summer Hill, in Sydney's inner west. In this time, Buckle manufactured belts and braces and produced a myriad of brands, some of which corporate and private label customers were involved with. Shortly after, Peggy's son, Paul started to manage the business.

2004

Peggy, alongside her daughter, Jacquie, established Ecclisse – a successful women's brand consisting of clothing, jewellery and accessories stocked in Myer and David Jones and featured in Harper's Bazaar and Marie Claire.

2011

Buckle established Smith Street, a fashion-forward men's label that offered a collection of men's clothing for savvy, fashion-conscious men aged between 25-35. It made regular appearance in publications such as Cleo, Cosmo and the Daily Telegraph to name a few.

2013

Buckle was acquired by Heritage Accessories Pty Ltd via a management buyout that placed all brands under one roof. The following year saw the business relocate to a facility in Stanmore, in Sydney's inner west.

2021

Buckle became accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia, demonstrating our commitment to ethical practices in the production of our Australian-made accessories and fostering a responsible and transparent supply chain.

2023

Buckle became a member of the Leather Working Group, and began to source 100% of its leathers from accredited tanneries, to ensure that our leather is produced using environmentally friendly processes that minimise the impact on ecosystems and communities.

2024

Buckle relocated its production facility from Stanmore to St. Peters.

Today

The business is directed by Melissa Gibson and Warren Sanders and employs more than 25 staff to service over 1200 retailers including Myer, David Jones and The Iconic. Buckle also manufactures private label accessories on behalf of many Australian and international brands.

Buckle has continued to adapt to the evolving fashion industry, while remaining committed to delivering exceptional service and crafting Australian heritage every day.

It's All In The Details

Our Handcrafted Process

Since Buckle first began to produce braces in the 1920s and belts in the 1940s, our finely handcrafted accessories have remained our signature products, renowned for timeless style and Australian made quality. We craft leather belts and braces using traditional processes and hand-assisted machinery in our Sydney facility. Each handcrafted piece tells a story, honouring the skills and traditions passed down by our talented craftspeople.

Crafting Australian Made Belts

Since the 1940s, we’ve handcrafted leather belts using traditional techniques and hand-assisted machinery.

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Crafting Australian Made Braces

Since the 1920s, our handcrafted braces have remained among our bestsellers.

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Meet The Team

Our Craftspeople

At Buckle, our craftspeople are the heart of our business. Behind each handcrafted accessory is a team of skilled craftspeople, and a crafting process we have perfected over 100 years. 14 skilled craftspeople collaborate to produce our Australian made accessories. Our team works together to share knowledge, skills and laughter as we craft Australian heritage every day. We are passionate about what we do and it shows in our meticulous attention to detail and commitment to high-end, classic quality.

Maria

"I have been working at Buckle for over 30 years, since the factory was located in Summer Hill. I've learnt a lot about the crafting process in my time at Buckle. My skills include cutting, gluing, picking and scanning – but never sewing! I've been working here for so long that I've made many good friends. It's been my family."

Production Manager, Craftsperson

Working at Buckle since 1990

Jack

"I have worked at Buckle for so many years that, not only can I operate almost every piece of machinery in the factory, I also know how to fix and maintain them too! I'm known as the 'Jack of all trades' in the factory. Making repairs and finding creative solutions is my favourite part of what I do."

Craftsperson (Skiving, Hole-Punching)

Working at Buckle since 1993

Goretti

"I have worked at Buckle for more than 25 years. Since then, I've learnt a lot about manufacturing, and especially the art of picking orders, which is my speciality now. My role requires a lot of familiarity with our products, as well as their placement on the factory shelves. The best part about my job is having fun."

Craftsperson (Picking and packing)

Working at Buckle since 1996

Lee

"When I started working at Buckle in 1998, I quickly realised how many processes and machines were involved in crafting a belt from start to finish. In time, I have learned almost all of them. I have become one of the most experienced craftspeople on the production team, and I feel fortunate for all the skills I have learned. My favourite part of working at Buckle is being amongst my friends every day."

Craftsperson (Sewing)

Working at Buckle since 1998

Linh

"My sister had been working at Buckle since 1986, and she was the one who encouraged me to join the production team. My first role was on the gluing line, where belts made of two pieces are combined and fed through a machine, before being stitched together. Now I specialise in packing, making sure each order is packed with care before it goes on to be invoiced and dispatched."

Craftsperson (Picking and packing)

Working at Buckle since 1998

Becky

"Since many of us have been working together for a long time, our team has a strong sense of support and collaboration. The important thing about crafting accessories is attention to detail, so it's important that we have always felt encouraged to do our best."

Craftsperson (Sewing, Bartacking)

Working at Buckle since 1999

Max

"The best part about working at Buckle is the people. The only hard part is not getting covered in flecks of cardboard as I assemble the shipping boxes! I have the most fun at the end of the week, when there are a lot of orders to go out and there's a steady rhythm for my work to flow."

Invoicing and Dispatch Clerk

Working at Buckle since 2015

Betty

"I have made lifelong friends at work."

Craftsperson (Sewing and packing)

Working at Buckle since 2016

Ken

"Since joining the production team, I have learned so much about the process of crafting accessories. When I started working at Buckle I was helping out with odd jobs around the factory, which led me to learn new skills and crafting techniques over time. Now I handcraft the leather keepers on our belts, first cutting them to size and then joining them together."

Craftsperson (Assembly)

Working at Buckle since 2017

Our Values

At Buckle, our values guide everything we do: fostering a supportive, creative and respectful team; transforming premium, sustainably sourced materials into timeless Australian-made accessories with skilled local craftspeople; honouring our 100-year heritage through traditional techniques and antique machinery; and committing to local, sustainable and ethical production so every Buckle accessory is thoughtfully crafted to the highest standard.

Our facility is accredited with Ethical Clothing Australia for our Australian made products.

Our Values

Ethical Craftsmanship

Our belts and braces are carefully handcrafted in our production facility located in St. Peters, Sydney. We take pride in being recognised and accredited by Ethical Clothing Australia, ensuring that our locally produced items meet the highest ethical standards.

Overseen by the TCF and CMFE Unions, the accreditation is awarded annually after a social audit critiques our ethical practices right through our supply chain. The audit also reviews wages and other entitlements in accordance with the TCF Award, working conditions and staff contentment.

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Our Values

Reducing our Environmental Impact

In our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, we employ various strategies. Most of our machinery is powered by manual methods or air, resulting in electricity usage similar to that of a large household.

Additionally, we have a culture of minimising waste by repurposing manufacturing offcuts from belt production into leather tabs for braces. By producing our accessories in Australia, we contribute to the growth and sustainability of the domestic manufacturing industry.

We prioritise sourcing materials locally whenever possible, reducing our carbon footprint and supporting local businesses.

We source 100% of our leather from tanneries certified by the Leather Working Group.

Our Values

Transparency in Supply Chain

We are one of few Australian companies to source 100% of our leather from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. Leather Working Group is an internationally recognised multi-stakeholder community and not-for-profit organisation that promotes sustainability and best practices within the leather industry.

Leather Working Group champion: environmental stewardship, including water treatment and management initiatives from the tanning process; sustainability and traceability standards; and best practice in leather production.

We exclusively source responsible leather produced as by-products of the meat industry. We do not offer exotic leather options such as snake or crocodile in our range.

To guarantee the quality of our products, our leathers undergo regular and independent testing in one of Australia's leading NATA-accredited laboratories. These tests assess composition, leather quality, colourfastness, and wear, in accordance with ISO standards. This thorough process provides our customers with confidence in the materials we use.

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Our Values

Trusted Australian Quality

With a rich 100-year heritage, our products are imbued with a reverence for tradition. Each product we create is authentically Australian, deeply rooted in our country's heritage and story.

We highly value our customers and their unique stories, striving to deliver a customer experience that reflects the integrity of our Australian-made products. Our team is passionate about delivering exceptional service to our customers. We work hard to ensure that every product we make is of the highest standard, so you can feel confident in your purchase.

Trust is at the heart of our customer relationships, and we are committed to upholding the values of integrity, transparency, and reliability in all aspects of our service.