Belt up..

Our admiration and support of local craftspeople is no secret - you only have to look at our Cotswolds Christmas Gift Guide to see a heap of independents doing great things! Many of the people behind those businesses share the same story of a boring office job and an urge to follow their creative passions. This is exactly the case of Kingsley, the man behind Kingsley Leather.

​If you live around the Cheltenham area, you may be famiiar with the work of Kingsley Leather. I have been avid followers of his work for a couple of years now and after my first purchase, a riveted leather key fob, I am always very keen to see what is coming out of the workshop next. The most recent item to land in my lap is one of his leather belts. Now, I own quite a few belts of different styles, but never one that has been custom made. The process was incredibly simple as all he required were three things - what colour I wanted (black or brown.. I went for brown), the length from the buckle to the center of a hole on a belt that I wear (that is top secret!) and what kind of buckle I would like (brass or stainless steel.. I went for brass). I did say it was simple!

​It arrived in a stylish ribbon-tied box and although I had no doubts that the quality was going to be of a very high standard, this exceeded my expectations. From the thickness of the leather and the subtle lion's head (the Kingsley Leather stamp of approval) to the stuning brass buckle, handmade in Northamptonshire, this belt just oozed quality and class and was instantly added to my blue chinos for a day at the races matched with brown shoes and a dark tweed jacket.

Crafted from the finest English Bridle Leather, completely hand-stitching it (not a machine in sight!) using the traditional saddle stitch technique known for it's strength and durability and making it exactly to suit your requirements, you would probably expect it to be expensive.. well, think again! This belt is just £69.00 and is perfect for any gent looking to smarten up their accessory collection. It would also make a wonderful gift for any wives, partners or parents reading this and is usually ready to dispatch within 4-6 business days so there is still lots of time before Christmas!

​From  starting off making a few commisions, Kingsley's collection has grown immensely from stunning wallets and phone cases to cufflinks and coasters with each item made to the highest standard.

Below are a few ideas of what Kingsley can create. Visit www.kingsleyleather.co.uk for more info on all of his products and to contact him with any custom requests! ​