SIZing & INFO
BELTS
All belts are available in either CUSTOM FIT or STANDARD FIT (UK/US Imperial sizes).
CUSTOM FIT:
*THE BEST FIT*
‘CUSTOM FIT’ sized belts are sized just for you and will give a more customised fit.
Measuring your current belt using the illustrated guide below will give you a more accurate measurement to get your belt custom sized.
* Lay your most used belt out as flat and as straight as you can.
* Measure from the inside edge of the buckle to your most often used belt hole.
* Be sure to measure two or three times to give an accurate measurement.
Note: All belts are made from HEAVYWEIGHT 10oz English Oak Bark Leather
*Belt straps are hand cut from traditionally tanned natural English Oak Bark Bridle Leather so thickness can vary from hide to hide.
Most hides vary between 3.5mm - 4.5mm.
^ PLACE THIS CUSTOM MEASUREMENT IN THE ‘NOTES’ SECTION AT CHECKOUT ^
*Please note: ‘Custom’ sized belts are non-returnable.
All our belts come with x5 oblong holes spaced 1” apart. If you would like more or less holes punched or spaced differently, put this information in the ‘Notes’ section whilst checking out.
How to Custom Measure Your Body for a Custom Belt:
*(if you don’t currently own a leather belt)
To measure your body for a belt size, this is best done whilst wearing the clothes you are most likely to be wearing with the belt.
Start by wearing your trousers/skirt etc. at the height you usually wear them and threading the tape measure through the belt loops.
*It is important to stand in a relaxed, upright position and make sure you do not push out your stomach or suck it in while doing this. Just relax.
The measuring tape should be snug against you – not too loose or too tight.
Take the measurement in inches and place this information in the ‘Notes’ section at checkout.
STANDARD FIT:
‘STANDARD FIT’ belt sizes are - 28”, 30”, 32”, 34”, 36”, 38”, 40”, 42”
ORDER THE SIZE CLOSEST TO YOUR ACTUAL WAIST MEASUREMENT.
32” BELT = SIZED TO FIT A 32” WAIST
*PLEASE DO NOT GO BY YOUR TROUSER SIZE AS THE BELT WILL MOST LIKELY COME UP SHORT*
ALL ‘STANDARD FIT’ BELTS ARE SIZED TO FIT ACTUAL WAIST SIZES (INC. CLOTHING!).
IF YOU ARE IN-BETWEEN SIZES, SIZE DOWN - OR CONSIDER ORDERING A ‘CUSTOM FIT’ BELT.
If your actual waist measurement is 32”, order a 32” belt.
‘Standard Fit’ belts are sized to fit the waist over clothing - giving a 1 1/2” allowance for the leather of the belt and the clothing beneath.
*So a 32” Standard Fit belt will measure 33 1/2” to the middle hole.
Most people find the sizing works well for clothing worn at the traditional height i.e. close to the waistline.
How to accurately Measure Your WAIST for a Belt:
To obtain an accurate measurement for your waist in order to purchase a correctly fitted belt start by placing the tape measure around your body directly against your skin at the height you usually wear your trousers or skirt. There should be no clothing beneath the tape measure.
*It is important to stand in a relaxed, upright position and make sure you do not push out your stomach or suck it in while doing this. Just relax.
The measuring tape should be snug against you – not too loose or too tight.
Take the measurement in inches and place this information in the ‘Notes’ section at checkout.
IF YOU ARE STILL UNSURE OF SIZING, HAVE A QUESTION OR NEED SOME MORE INFO -
FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH HERE
MONOGRAMS:
If you would like your goods monogrammed please add this to the ‘Notes’ section at checkout.
The length of monogram will be determined by the width of strap or size of your goods -
Belts:
1” - Up to 3 characters
1¼” - Up to 4 characters
1½” - Up to 5 characters
1¾” - Up to 6 characters
*Please note: All monogrammed goods are non-returnable.
LEATHER CARE AND MAINTENANCE:
Looked after, ERNEST WALKER LTD. handmade goods will give you a lifetime of faithful service. It is best to follow these guidelines -
* Always let leather and canvas dry naturally.
* Let dirt dry and brush off or gently sponge. Never wash.
* For leather - apply a good leather conditioner sparingly and occasionally.
‘Chelsea Leather Food’ or ‘Huberd’s Shoe Grease’ is recommended, but a good quality ‘Neutral’ dubbin will do the job.
*Note: Leather conditioning products may slightly darken the tone of your leather - but this will happen naturally with use over time with lighter toned leathers regardless.
REPAIR:
We offer a repair service for all of our goods. Just get in touch!
FAQs:
‘What is Oak Bark Bridle Leather?’
‘Oak Bark’ refers to the tanning process. Each piece takes 14 months to tan in traditional tanning pits filled with locally and sustainably sourced oak bark and river water from the river adjacent to the tannery. Oak Bark tanned leather is stronger and more durable than other leathers as the slow tanning process protects the natural fibres plus traditional tanning in this way uses zero harmful chemicals - so there are no toxic substances going back in to the environment.
Read more about Oak Bark Leather
‘Bridle’ refers to the way the leather is finished at the tannery. Bridle leather is traditionally used for equestrian use as both the grain and the flesh sides are smooth so it doesn’t rub against the horse. Making bridle leather requires a longer process than non-bridle leather as the tannery apply natural greases in to the leather by hand on both sides. This creates a lustrous and durable grain side as well as a flat and smooth flesh side - perfect for belt making!
‘How long will my goods take to ship?’
All goods are handmade to order in small batches by one maker and require at least a 1 week turnaround.
However it can be faster or longer than this, depending on how many orders are being fulfilled, etc. You will be notified you as soon as your goods are ready to dispatch.
Raw material stock levels may also determine shipping times. Get in touch for a dispatch estimate if it is urgent.
*Note: I am a one-man-band designing, making and shipping all goods myself. Please be patient with manufacturing times - I do my best to get orders out as soon as possible.
Nothing rushed can ever be quality craftsmanship.
‘How thick are your belts?’
We only use 12oz English Oak Bark Tanned Bridle Butt for all out belts ranging from 3.5-4.5mm thick (approx.) These are Heavy Duty handmade belts that will last many years.
‘How do I measure for a belt?’
Please read the how to measure guide above ^.
‘What do I do if my belt is ‘snug’?
Over time new leather belts will give and stretch a little with wear. So if a new belt fits a little tight or snug to begin with - as leather is a natural material - it is likely to feel more comfortable with everyday wear as the leather loosens up.
Leather conditioner products can also help ‘soften up’ the leather but please bear in mind this may darken the tone of the leather.
‘The copper rivets have some green stuff on them, what shall I do?’
Copper does not rust, it ‘oxidises’ and if you find any green deposits on or around your pure copper saddlers rivets, these are ‘copper oxides’ and are part of the natural process of the metal reacting to oxygen, moisture and sweat.
This natural process will not affect the strength or construction of your goods and is part of the natural patina of old fashioned items made from traditional materials. But if you would like to remove it you can brush it off with a firm leather brush and/or use a cocktail stick around the edges - check the brush is soft enough not to damage the leather. Or you can use Brasso to shine the rivets - taking care not to get it on the leather.
Over time - copper will tarnish to a deep auburn colour, embrace it. It is beautiful.
‘What does ‘Bridle Leather’ mean?’
Bridle Leather is traditionally used in equestrian tack [harnesses and bridles for horse riding] so it is hand picked for it’s quality and naturally tanned to be exceptionally strong and durable.
Bridle Leather is perfect for belt making because the underside or ‘Corium’ of the leather is worked by hand to be smooth and generate less friction against the horse’s hide so helps the belt to glide against our jeans and belt loops with ease.
ERNEST WALKER LTD. uses Baker’s English Oak Bark Bridle Leather which is traditionally tanned with Oak Bark and hand finished by working natural waxes and oils into the hide on both sides. This is a labour intensive process that gives the leather a firm temper and a natural richness which will develop a beautiful patina over time.
‘You use Baker’s Oak Bark Tanned Leather but your colour names are different to theirs - what is with that?’
ERNEST WALKER LTD. uses 5 different tones of leather from the J & FJ Baker & Co. Ltd. Tannery and for those that want to know; here is the Oak Bark Leather tone chart comparing our leather tone names with the actual names from Baker’s tannery:
ERNEST WALKER LTD. - J&FJ Baker & Co. Ltd.
Hide - Russet
Tobacco - Dark Stain
Whiskey - Australian Nut
Coffee - Dark Havana
Coal - Black