Belts

[Dr_Heech]

Beautiful belt @Duke Mantee

Much prefer simple affairs.

[Duke Mantee]

3 hours ago, Dr_Heech said:

Beautiful belt @Duke Mantee

Much prefer simple affairs.

Thanks mate - sometimes it’s best just to keep it simple - let the leather do the talking

[Duke Mantee]

… and so another ‘simple affair’, this time for @skurlandski 

Russet Wickett & Craig Harness (about 9-11oz) with a solid brass buckle sewn in and a matching leather keeper

Sorry about the image - we’re getting the tail end of the storm front (which is nothing compared to what many poor folk suffered) so I’ll get an indoor pic later on

edit: pic updated

Edited October 1, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

Adam Goldberg in Esquire Magazine

[MJF9]

@Duke Mantee boom! class! did you get a mention?

[Toegun]

Bravo @Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

27 minutes ago, MJF9 said:

@Duke Mantee boom! class! did you get a mention?

Just now, Toegun said:

Bravo @Duke Mantee

Thanks guys - no mention (I didn’t even know until another guy on IG pointed it out) but that’s no biggie … I’m chuffed folk are wearing the belts, that’s more than good enough

[Duke Mantee]

For @meaterball2020 on IG who wanted English bridle leather with the initial idea of using the Brooklyn design but changing a couple of the flowers to the Om and Swastik. After a few iterations it was clear we should go down the road more fully and incorporate the Tri Shakti and so I came up with the positioning the Om, Trishul and Swastik left, centre and right and using the Padma symbols instead of the Brooklyn flowers

So 10oz Sedgwick Bridle in Australian Nut, Bronzed patina on solid brass buckle, brass hardware

 

 

Edited October 6, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

‘The Duke’ … or at least that’s what @secondary_colors on IG calls it (some here will also remember him from Denimbro) … more or less it’s a re-make of one of my own belts, and why he called that.

This is 9-11oz Wickett & Craig Harness with a Japanese repro buckle (given a patina to ‘age’ it), real Jasper and Tibetan Turquoise gemstones set in antique brass finish hardware and paired with NOS brass cowboy spots and a vintage Japanese coin on the tail. 

 

[Broark]

Wow, that's a beaut Duke. Taking note of this one for my next order, whenever that may be. 

[Duke Mantee]

Just now, Broark said:

Wow, that's a beaut Duke. Taking note of this one for my next order, whenever that may be. 

Thanks mate … but you should be focusing on something more important just now

[Broark]

4 minutes ago, Duke Mantee said:

Thanks mate … but you should be focusing on something more important just now

Oh don't you worry, I'm dialed in. 

[Duke Mantee]

… and another for @meaterball2020 on IG (same fella who ordered the belt with the Hindu symbols)

This a slimmer belt at 32mm made from the ever popular Walpier Buttero Rocky - about 9oz weight. He wanted a simple strap that could be versatile enough to wear with jeans or something a little more formal.

 

[reallypeacedoff]

Just a Nudie Jeans Co belt, nothing crazy but for the price, well made...A good couple of years of everyday wear. Have a black version now so it rotates.

 

[Duke Mantee]

… and the third and final belt for @meaterball2020 on IG - another formal but suitable for casual belt in 9oz Walpier Buttero Rocky with solid brass hardware, the buckle being stitched on this time, and edges painted out

 

[MJF9]

On 10/11/2022 at 12:06 PM, Broark said:

Wow, that's a beaut Duke. Taking note of this one for my next order, whenever that may be. 

Are you going for one belt per pair of jeans?

[julian-wolf]

^ You underestimate how many pairs of jeans he has 

[Broark]

1 hour ago, MJF9 said:

Are you going for one belt per pair of jeans?

I think that would end up with me going broke and Duke would truly be elevated to a Duke in real life. 
My collection has actually shrunk a little, and I haven't been buying at the same clip I once was.

[MJF9]

^^ nah I’m jesting with Austin… must improve my emoji game though - should it have been this one I think  

[Duke Mantee]

19 hours ago, julian-wolf said:

^ You underestimate how many pairs of jeans he has 

… or overestimate my production capability

[Duke Mantee]

This belt for my buddy @shadesofindig0 on IG - made from a beautifully pure Vachetta leather and overlaid with some antique Japanese indigo boro cloth dating from Meiji Period (1868-1912) and an antique Japanese coin from the same era.

Literally had to wear gloves in the making of it …

Edited October 18, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[srudy]

This belt is ridiculous @Duke Mantee !!!!!!

[Duke Mantee]

7 minutes ago, srudy said:

This belt is ridiculous @Duke Mantee !!!!!!

Thank you - truth be told there’s a fair bit of inspiration from one particular source re. the name  

[Duke Mantee]

The other belt for @sjordanpalmer on IG (I posted the black Hermann Oak belt a few weeks ago)

This should have been finished more or less at the same time as the other, but supplies of the Hermann Oak British Brown seemed to vanish off the face of the earth, and each query I sent to the supplier asking for updates was met with full on sales bullshit. Anyway after a couple of weeks I think the fella understandably ran out of patience and we discussed options.

We settled on a lighter (than usual) weight of J&FJ Baker Bridle leather in Australian Nut (weird how US made UK style bridle isn’t like UK bridle, and the traditional UK colour of Australian Nut is pretty much what is called British Brown in the US)

So 9-11oz J&FJ Baker Bridle with solid brass buckle and solid brass hardware (nickel allergy was an issue here) with vintage glass jewels, NOS cowboy spot on the tail and a custom designed font for the name:

 

Edited October 25, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[Duke Mantee]

… and a couple more small spaced 7 holed belts for @faberlicious on IG … and soon here he promised me …

A Walpier Buttero Rocky in Nero at about 9~10oz with a Japanese sand cast brass buckle:

 

and a heavy pull-up buffalo leather (about the same weight as the one above) and with another Japanese sand cast brass buckle 

[fabes]

16 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

… and a couple more small spaced 7 holed belts for @faberlicious on IG … and soon here he promised me …

A Walpier Buttero Rocky in Nero at about 9~10oz with a Japanese sand cast brass buckle:

 

and a heavy pull-up buffalo leather (about the same weight as the one above) and with another Japanese sand cast brass buckle 

These are great @Duke Mantee looking forward to putting these to good use.

I’ve lurked here for quite awhile, but this is my first post. I hope I can continue to learn from y’all and add to this community by sharing my experience as well. 

[Duke Mantee]

19 minutes ago, fabes said:

These are great @Duke Mantee looking forward to putting these to good use.

I’ve lurked here for quite awhile, but this is my first post. I hope I can continue to learn from y’all and add to this community by sharing my experience as well. 

A man of your word! 

Welcome - glad to see you on board  

[Duke Mantee]

3 weeks since I posted anything here … shambles

Here’s one for my pal @julian-wolf - he decided what I do is too easy, so wanted me to decorate a slimmer belt. We eventually settled on a half-Brooklyn type thing.

1 1/4” 9-11oz (about 4mm thickness) Wickett & Craig Harness in Buck brown with brass hardware and real Jasper gemstones

Edited November 16, 2022 by Duke Mantee

[Talan]

On 9/29/2022 at 9:55 AM, Duke Mantee said:

Thanks mate - sometimes it’s best just to keep it simple - let the leather do the talking

Yes

[julian-wolf]

11 hours ago, Duke Mantee said:

3 weeks since I posted anything here … shambles

Here’s one for my pal @julian-wolf - he decided what I do is too easy, so wanted me to decorate a slimmer belt. We eventually settled on a half-Brooklyn type thing.

1 1/4” 9-11oz (about 4mm thickness) Wickett & Craig Harness in Buck brown with brass hardware and real Jasper gemstones

Figured you’d be getting bored of it any time now without a bit of a challenge thrown your way…

Looks just as pretty as I’d hoped & expected—can’t wait to start giving it a good beating

Edited November 16, 2022 by julian-wolf
Typo fix, goose -> good