Cowhide belt D-ring

This cowhide belt uses the double butt hide from the animal's back, which is the best section and the one most prized by leather goods manufacturers. It is vegetable-tanned in a German tannery for at least two months, then aniline-dyed and treated with beeswax. The buckle, its roller frame, and the D-ring featured on the loop are all cast in brass and silver plated by an Italian family business. The Offenbach leather manufacturer, Kreis Ledermanufaktur, expertly cuts the leather, mills the belt edges, finishes them in a multi-step process, stains the leather a buff colour and, finally, polishes the article with hard wax. Such elaborate, traditional craft is far superior to the industrial coating alternatives – and the only thing the belt edges might need is a little polishing using a colourless shoe cream from time to time.

Founded in 1963 in Offenbach by Erich Kreis, the Hessian leather manufacturer Kreis became specialised in belts early on. The firm is run today by Bernd Kreis, the son of the founder. He uses only full-grained leather: classic box calf and traditionally pit-tanned cow leather from Germany, saddle leather from England and the legendary Shell Cordovan horse leather from the Horween^® tannery in Chicago. Kreis is one of the very few manufacturers of hand-made leather belts which still cultivates the time-consuming art of triple layer belt construction.

Founded in 1963 in Offenbach by Erich Kreis, the Hessian leather manufacturer Kreis became specialised in belts early on. The firm is run today by Bernd Kreis, the son of the founder. He uses only full-grained leather: classic box calf and traditionally pit-tanned cow leather from Germany, saddle leather from England and the legendary Shell Cordovan horse leather from the Horween® tannery in Chicago. Kreis is one of the very few manufacturers of hand-made leather belts which still cultivates the time-consuming art of triple layer belt construction.

The belt length is the length from the inside edge of the belt buckle to the centre belt hole. This length should correspond to the waist size of the trousers.