About Leather Belts

Leather belts have been around for some time as a part of people's wardrobes. Both men and women have used and still use them for keeping pants, shorts, or even skirts from slipping when they are not a perfect fit. While this was the original use for leather belts, these days leather belts are also part of a fashion statement that many women choose to make.

Features

Leather belts can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and decorations. Some leather belts have beading on them as you might see at a Native American Powow, others have designs cut into them, while others may even have painting on them. Leather belts come with or without buckles, some have leather straps to tie around your waist, others have a hole and a hook that grabs onto it. With the advent of the leather belt as a fashion accessory, the sky is the limit when it comes to design.

Types

Leather belts can be made from many different types of animals depending on the style of belt. While most are made from cow hide as this is more readily available than most other types of leather, some are made from leather cured from a deer or elk skin, and even rabbit skin is a possibility though not as common. Even reptiles aren't left out of the realm of possibilities as evidenced by alligator skin belts.

History

People have been hunting animals and curing and using their skins for clothing since the stone age. People have been using strips of leather as belts for thousands of years, and the practice appears to date back to the Roman civilizations that pre-date the Christian era. Leather making as a production process was created and refined during the 8th century in Spain by the Moors who were in control of Spain at the time.

Considerations

When choosing a leather belt, some things to keep in mind are what type of clothing you'll be wearing with it, whether or not you want a leather belt that makes a fashion statement, or is simply to hold up your pants. Some other things to think about are if you're a crafty person and you want to try and make your own leather belt, what type of leather you want your belt to be made from, and whether or not you want the more stiff leather that is part and parcel of manufactured belts or if you want a belt that is made from more supple leather.

Warning

Whatever type of leather is chosen, you will need to make sure it is properly cared for. Leather belts that are not kept away from moisture can get mold and mildew on them and this can ruin the leather if it is allowed to go on too long. Mold can affect your allergies if you have them, and both mildew and mold can smell awful if left too long. Leather belts can also be subject to oxidation which can cause them to crack or break on their surface. Finally, sunlight, and pollution can cause your leather belt to deteriorate more quickly.

Prevention/Solution

Treat your leather belts with leather dressing to keep them supple and beautiful. Such dressings are lubricants that are petroleum based and will keep your leather belt healthy for 5 to 6 months, after that be sure and apply the treatment again. Keeping your leather belt out of sunlight and extreme heat, as well as away from harsh chemicals will also help to extend the life of your leather belt. Finally, keep your leather belt in a cool, dry location to avoid mold and mildew growth.

Resources

• Leather Belts
• History of Leather Belts