OD+IC Natural Indigo Dyed Horsehide Fireman Belt

• 5mm thick Tochigi saddle leather
• Horse Butt (Bend) leather
• Vat dyed by hand in Natural Indigo
• Original quick-release brass buckle
• Metal hardware with hand-finish detail
• Five prong holes (2.5cm (0.9") distance between each hole)
• 3.3cm (1.2") belt width

Harmonizing our love for Japanese Natural Indigo (Yamato Ai) & Inception’s meticulous production of artisanal leather belts, our latest collaboration travels through multiple facilities and workshops in Japan to create what we deem to be your jeans' new best friend. Using Japanese Natural Indigo derived from the Indigofera plant that is native to Japan, the Persicaria Tinctoria, a powdered concentrate of the natural dye is produced by fermenting and then breaking down the leaves through a year-long process. 

Horse Butt leather is essentially some of the toughest, hardest and most durable leather that money can buy. With the capacity to only source enough leather for 15 belts from the rump of each horse, it is a finite resource that often commands a high price from leather wholesalers and tanners. Often confused with Shell Cordovan, the difference is Cordovan is sourced from the same rump area of the horse, but is further shaved down yielding the additional fiber layer beneath the horse butt leather.

Located just north of Tokyo, the saddle leather used for the production of Inception's belts are sourced directly from the famed Japanese leather tanner, Tochigi Leather. Opting to use Bend (horse butt) leather which is known as a premium leather featuring firmness and durability, the leather cuttings are vegetable tanned for at least a month or longer than normal at the request of the brand - resulting in a leather that is full of character and packing that patina-potential. Additionally, Inception tread the unbeaten path with their leather dyeing, always doing so with the fibers intact, resulting in further rigidity.
The leather goes through a process of glazing using a high-pressure iron after it has been dyed. Before being cut into belts, the leather is smoothed out to a 5mm thickness and the back portion dyed and polished before cutting and beveling. This entire process is done by a single leather craftsman in Inception's roster. Fireman buckles originated from the United Kingdom, and were originally used for the rapid deployment of hoses. Not just functional, the custom-sourced brass parts of this buckle are expected to patina just as beautifully over time, in tandem with the leather.

*Due to the natural leather that is used for this belt, please note that naturally occurring scratches and wrinkles may be present.

**Please refer to this page for further info on how to measure your belt size.