HANDMADE LEATHER BELTS, MADE BY MONGOOSE MOON

Our handmade leather belts are made using the finest British leather from the only remaining oak bark tannery in Britain. These belts are handmade by Charlie Findlay, he makes belts you will cherish for a lifetime. These sturdy leather belts stand out from the crowd in their strength and durability.  Belts such as these are rarely found on the high street. The leather is thick and strong, great to the touch and its natural smell is amazing. Each belt is custom made to suit your own special requirements.

IMPORTANT NOTICE Unfortunately, due to illness, we are currently unable to fulfill any orders for handmade leather belts. Please send us an email if you would like us to contact you as soon as we are able to resume making.

Mongoose Moon has just introduced FREE SHIPPING on all our products to help make the process easier for our customers throughtout the world.

THE MOST EXQUISITE LEATHER: While seeking out the most exquisite leather Charlie discovered the last remaining British oak bark tannery in Colyton, Devon, J&FJ Baker Co. Ltd. This tannery supplies the finest quality leather. There has been a tannery there for over 2000 years since Roman times. The Baker family has run this business over 5 generations going back over 150 years. They create English bridle leathers that have an incredibly high tensile strength, ideal for making belts. Their leather is light in weight and becomes beautifully supple with age as it gains a unique patina.

COLOURS AND TYPE OF LEATHER: We always visit the tannery to select the leather for our handmade leather belts. Each hide has a unique quality and character. We usually stock over 20 different butts in a variety of colours and thicknesses both corrected and uncorrected leather. Corrected leather has a smooth grain as the surface has been made smooth. Uncorrected leather has the natural surface of the animals skin, scars and all. Belts made with this leather have a more worn in appearance from day one.

THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE LEATHER: The processes to tan leather have little changed over the years. For instance the local stream flows through the waterwheel that agitates the tannic liquor within the pits filled with local cattle skins. 12 months later the tanning process has naturally and slowly transformed the skins into the most fabulous quality leather. After that, the leather is stained using vegetable dyes, oils and waxes are applied to protect and feed the leather. Artisans all over the world use Bakers leather to make the finest products available. Above all, we like to work with people who value the same things we do: craft and skill, community and environment.

SLIDE SHOW: In conclusion we would like you to watch this beautiful black and white slide show to learn more about the process of tanning leather with oak bark in this wonderful old tannery in Devon. You can also follow the tannery on Facebook.