Once the blocking step is complete, the leather piece is then fed through a specialised cutting machine, creating long thin strips that will form the basis of a more detailed belt. 

Once strips have been cut, the next part of the process involves joining the top leather with a backing to form a very simple strap. Otherwise known as combining, the step involves a long production line, which is called the glue line and features a glue station, combining machine and several drying stations along the way. 

The next phase requires tips to be punched out. This is the arrow shaped end which feeds through a buckle of the belt. Knives are fitted to air-compressor assisted machinery which punches these shapes out of the leather strap. 

Bevelling is the process where the belt receives a trim. During the gluing and combining process things are not always perfect. When two pieces of leather are joined together there are often untidy edges or overlapping. This process takes millimeters off the edge to give the strap a nice, clean finish. 

Some of the belts progressing through our factory require slots. Slots are required when a traditional prong buckle is fitted to a strap. A slot is simply an elongated hole that is punched using one of our presses at the buckle end of the strap. Depending on the type and size of buckle used, we have many knives to accommodate different sized slot holes. 

On the tip end of the belt, prong holes are required to be punched out. Directly next to the press which punches out the slots is the machine which punches out the holes. Once again, depending on the type and size of the buckle used, we have many knives of different sizes and shapes. We also have some knives that have up to six holes. Straps are placed into the guide and punched using a machine which dates back to the 1940s. Our holes are not punched individually, rather the one knife features either 5 or 6 studs which allows the holes to be punched perfectly every time.

Now working with the buckle end of the strap, the next process is what we call ‘skiving’. The strap is fed through a specialised machine featuring a bell knife. The knife spins around, and when the strap is inserted briefly, several layers of leather are shaved off the buckle end, resulting in that area being now thinner than the rest of the strap. The benefit of this step is to allow the leather to be folded back onto itself so that a buckle can be attached.

Prior to processing to the next stage of belt production, the straps are given a light sand simply to remove any rough edges remaining from the bevelling or tip cutting process. 

The next step is where we apply a colour to the edges of the belt. The colour is also applied to the inside of the slot hole and prong hole. The main strap is fed through a colouring machine, however the tip, slot and prong hole detail still needs to be managed manually by hand - often involving a small sponge and a lot of concentration. 

Drying, although a simple process, would have to be one of the most important ones. Already the belt has transitioned through so many processes, and it would be a shame that the quality of the product was let down by this process being rushed. Less than 15 years ago, this process involved hanging the belts from hooks positioned across the factory to allow them to air dry. Now the process has been modernised where they are fed through a drying channel instead.

Belts then progress through a first clean. It’s not a detailed clean, but just focuses its attention on any edge colour which may have leached onto either the top leather or backing of the belt. For most leathers, a little eucalyptus oil is all that is required.

Depending on the style produced, the next step is to place stitching along the edge of the strap. In the past, this was a must to keep the belt intact, however these days this step is not necessary, with many of our belts not moving through this process. We can either apply a standard light stitching, or a heavier saddle stitching.

Prior to attaching the buckle to the strap, a keeper needs to be made up. The keeper is the smaller leather loop which is designed to keep the tip end of the belt tucked into the waist. The process of making a keeper is not too dissimilar to producing a strap and will move through processes such as cutting, bevelling, colouring and, sometimes, edge stitching. These small pieces of leather are then cut to size and stapled together.

The keeper is then either sewn into the buckle end of the belt, which we refer to as a ‘fixed’ keeper, or, attached to a small piece of leather that allows more movement in the keeper, which is called a ‘floating’ keeper.

Buckles are now sourced and placed onto their straps, but before the next stage, we then attach swing tickets onto the base bar of the buckles.

This process involves the sewing of the buckle onto the strap. This is also the part where the keeper is attached to the belt. We have different machines in our factory which accommodate different belts and bartaking applications. Once a belt has progressed through this process, extra thread is sniped off and prepared for the final stages of production.

Stamping is one of the final stages of belt production and involves a machine which is both energised using a combination of air and electricity. Stamps are heated up and can either be punched into the strap using a foil or blind embossed method. Not only do we punch our logo, or our customer’s logo, into the belt, but we also punch the size of the belt, the country of origin information, and a four digit style number.

This stage requires the final touches to be applied to the belt. Normally this includes hangers or barcodes. Making our products floor ready helps retailers quickly get our product onto the shop floor. We also take the time to prepare our belts appropriately so that they don’t get damaged during transit.

The final clean is the process just before they are shipped out. To assist with the identification of the straps through production, chalk is used to mark up the straps. This is removed, and buffed out with soft cotton rags.

Belts are then consolidated into orders with our other accessories and carefully wrapped, then packed into boxes or jiffy bags. The order is confirmed in its entirety and the final quality control check is made.

Using the information provided by the picking and packing team, our invoicing clerk, weighs, invoices and books the order in for delivery.