OUR STORY
The beauty of our leather goods is achieved only by the finest craftsmanship and materials alike.
The British Belt Company prides itself on designing, developing and perfecting handmade leather goods, at our own factory in the heart of the UK.
HANDMADE IN RUTLAND
Founded in 1946, our family-run factory in the heart of rural Britain has been honing the art of belt-making for generations. Situated in the small market town of Uppingham, Rutland - England's smallest county - our workers consist of local artisans with a commitment and passion for leather-work. Traditionally a belt manufacturer, The British Belt Company forms part of Arnold Wills & Co. Our founder, Arnold Wills, saw opportunities for Britain at the time. With a passion for centuries-old, traditional leather craft, he quickly built a reputation creating premium leather products, supplying to the most renowned stores at the time.
To this day, this side of the business continues to thrive, crafting leather belts and small leather goods for a variety of household names. Very few leather brands actually make their own items, either sourcing from third-party suppliers abroad or by contracted factories in the UK. This is something we remain deeply proud of; all of our belts are designed and manufactured from start to finish, right here.
With this, comes the invaluable opportunity for office and factory to work in harmony with one another. We have been able to thrive and share, expanding our craft to include ladies belts, braces and small leather goods. Choosing a British Belt Co. piece means choosing the skill, knowledge and expertise that comes with 3 generations of leather work. This commitment we make, is our commitment to you.
SUSTAINABLE SOURCING
In an age of polluting, disposable fashion, it’s easy to forget the alternative. Timeless leather goods; formerly a discarded by-product of the food industry, transformed to create items of durable value. It’s a world away from the cheap, plastic-ridden, so-called ‘vegan’ leather of the high street. We pride ourselves on sourcing full grain skins from Leather Working Group approved tanneries, and upcycle leather scraps to create the leather ends found on our braces. This ethos helps to limit our leather waste and reduce the impact our craft has on the environment. For a more in-depth look into our language of leather and the sustainable leathers we use, please click here to see our Language of Leather blog post.
As a result, we take great pride in the longevity of our products. We hope to provide you with a treasured leather good that spans generations far, wide, and closer to home than you think.