GRAIL! Genuine needlepoint belt, handmade in the USA.
MADE IN THE USA NEEDLEPOINT BELTS ARE NOT COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE!
Needlepoint belts are one of THE classic preppy/Ivy icons. Handmade by necessity, these belts used to produced in the evenings by Muffy, Charlotte, Poppy and Catherine in their dorms at Vassar, Bryn Mawr, and Radclife to express their love for their "plus ones". Making a needlepoint belt was thus literally a painstaking labor of love; each tiny stitch of the needlepoint was by hand, as was the sewing of the needlepoint onto its leather backing, and then the fastening of the solid brass buckle as the final step.
A needlepoint belt could easily take in excess of 100 hours of labor.... which is why these were sometimes called "break up belts", as during the time that it took to make one someone might have decided to move on!
The number of people willing and able to make a needlepoint belt is very, very small indeed... and their iconic status meant that demand far exceeded supply. Luckily, this gap in the market was filled, mainly by Tucker Blair and Smathers and Branson. Naturally, given the labor that is needed to make these belts neither company could employ US workers and charge a price the market could bear, and so their belts are made offshore. (Vietnam for Smathers and Branson, likely China for Tucker Blair.) And both companies charge a LOT for their belts--in excess of $145 each.
THIS belt, however, was not made offshore, but is a genuine, handmade needlepoint belt that was (non-commercially) MADE IN THE USA. THIS IS A TRUE GRAIL ITEM!
And it's absolutely beautiful. Featuring a lovely pattern of stylized red, blue, purple, and green racing cyclists on a dark navy background this would be perfect with khakis and a blazer, ducks and a boating jacket, or even a suit to add a whimsical note. The needlepoint is absolutely first rate, using much finer stitching than the commercial offerings mentioned above. It is backed by very sturdy leather--if you've spent upwards of 100 hours on needlepoint you want it to last!--and the buckle is a lovely thick, solid brass buckle that, like the rest of the belt, was Made in the USA.
This belt is in excellent condition, with only some minor scuffs on the leather fastener. The leather strap is tagged "36", but this might work best for a 32 or 34 waist. The strap measures 35" to the middle hole, and 39 1/4" end to end.
Asking just $39, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.
Please PM with interest and offers!
MADE IN THE USA NEEDLEPOINT BELTS ARE NOT COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE!
Needlepoint belts are one of THE classic preppy/Ivy icons. Handmade by necessity, these belts used to produced in the evenings by Muffy, Charlotte, Poppy and Catherine in their dorms at Vassar, Bryn Mawr, and Radclife to express their love for their "plus ones". Making a needlepoint belt was thus literally a painstaking labor of love; each tiny stitch of the needlepoint was by hand, as was the sewing of the needlepoint onto its leather backing, and then the fastening of the solid brass buckle as the final step.
A needlepoint belt could easily take in excess of 100 hours of labor.... which is why these were sometimes called "break up belts", as during the time that it took to make one someone might have decided to move on!
The number of people willing and able to make a needlepoint belt is very, very small indeed... and their iconic status meant that demand far exceeded supply. Luckily, this gap in the market was filled, mainly by Tucker Blair and Smathers and Branson. Naturally, given the labor that is needed to make these belts neither company could employ US workers and charge a price the market could bear, and so their belts are made offshore. (Vietnam for Smathers and Branson, likely China for Tucker Blair.) And both companies charge a LOT for their belts--in excess of $145 each.
THIS belt, however, was not made offshore, but is a genuine, handmade needlepoint belt that was (non-commercially) MADE IN THE USA. THIS IS A TRUE GRAIL ITEM!
And it's absolutely beautiful. Featuring a lovely pattern of stylized red, blue, purple, and green racing cyclists on a dark navy background this would be perfect with khakis and a blazer, ducks and a boating jacket, or even a suit to add a whimsical note. The needlepoint is absolutely first rate, using much finer stitching than the commercial offerings mentioned above. It is backed by very sturdy leather--if you've spent upwards of 100 hours on needlepoint you want it to last!--and the buckle is a lovely thick, solid brass buckle that, like the rest of the belt, was Made in the USA.
This belt is in excellent condition, with only some minor scuffs on the leather fastener. The leather strap is tagged "36", but this might work best for a 32 or 34 waist. The strap measures 35" to the middle hole, and 39 1/4" end to end.
Asking just $39, or offer, boxed and shipped in the USA.
Please PM with interest and offers!
