muse
belts
Full‑grain leather. Nickel‑free. Sustainably made.
Vegetable‑tanned leather. No metal. No plastic. No snaps. Wrap, tie, or slide for a precise fit.
No metal hardware—comfortable for customers with nickel sensitivities and allergies.
THE BRAND
Muse Belts began while sitting in traffic. I was living in Florida. One day I was stuck in heavy traffic on the Florida Turnpike and was getting bored waiting for the traffic to clear. While I was sitting and waiting I was reflecting on my life with my father who had recently died at the time and a gift he gave to me while I was little. An unusual leather belt. My dad was an artist and traveled at times and upon each return he would bring a gift. I remember this belt. I don’t know if he had made it or bought it. My Dad was an inspiration to me. He was a warm and loving husband and father. We would do things together like go fishing, or fly kites and model airplanes that we made together. He would design and make things and painted art as well. I miss him very much. After traffic cleared I returned home. I went and bought a strip of leather and recreated the belt that my father gave to me. I made many changes to the belt to make it better and more functional. Soon after, friends of mine wanted a copy of what I made.
I then began selling online in June of 2008 after encouragement from a sister. In the first 6 months I sold about 200 belts. The second year I sold about 1000. Since the beginning I estimate that I have sold 15,000 belts and cuffs to people in 40 countries. I use only vegetable-tanned leather and water-based edge coatings. In every aspect of my business I consider the environment most important. The leather scrap I have left-over from production is donated to art classes for children at local private schools. The children create different things with the leather. I enjoy working with children to inspire them to be creative. They will carry that creativity with them. I have donated scrap leather to other artists as well.
While my last name is Muse I use the noun form of the word as the basis of my business. My father has a lot to do with who I am today and with me starting this business because he inspired me. I hope that we inspire others, especially our children. Be an inspiration.
THE DESIGNER
Born in Hagerstown, Maryland. My father was an educated artist and my mother was a German WWII survivor. Lived my formative years in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated in '76. After school a few years were spent in the US Navy serving aboard two Naval aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean. I worked in the Aviation industry for 20 years as a mechanic, quality control manager and designer of test equipment. I also owned and operated small construction and remodeling businesses. There was a short time spent in territory sales before the 2008 real estate collapse.
Today I live in Bolivia. I enjoy exploring all parts of the beautiful world we live in.
Our Craft and Processes
When Muse Belts begin, I researched of the various methods used throughout the centuries to make leather.
Of the many processes used, two methods most used today, are chrome-tanning and vegetable tanning.
Chrome tanning uses various chromium salts, more specifically, chrome alum and chromium(III) sulfate, are used in chromium-tanning of leather. The chromium stabilizes the leather by cross linking the collagen fibers. Chromium tanned leather can contain between 4 and 5% of chromium, which is tightly bound to the proteins. Although the form of chromium used for tanning is not the toxic hexavalent variety, there remains interest in management of chromium in the tanning industry such as recovery and reuse, direct/indirect recycling, use of less chromium or "chrome-less" tanning are practiced to better manage chromium in tanning.
Chrome-tanning factories or tanneries have been associated with serious contamination in the soils surrounding the tanneries, and contamination of water resources near these facilities. Affecting the people that work in the tanneries and the people in the communities. (a)
Vegetable tanning remains the oldest form of leather tanning known to man. The process uses natural substances, such as certain tree barks, nuts and plant matter. All non-toxic to humans, including those that work in the tanneries and animals. The effluent waste is non-toxic. The leather itself contains no toxic substances.
So the pros and cons are such:
Chrome tanning is less expensive to produce. It takes far less time to process, less than a week or two. But Chrome tanning is a toxic-laced product. Exposing workers who make the leather, the people and communities surrounding these types of tanneries to these toxic chemical.
Vegetable tanning is more expensive since it takes longer to produce, which can be about a month.
Vegetable tanned leather contains no toxic substances, not even remnants of toxic chemicals. The workers and the environment surrounding these types of tanneries are cleaner, safer.
Muse Belts uses vegetable tanned leather. We also use water-based coatings for the edges of all the belts. Not solvent based.
For packing and sending: We also use recycled or recyclable shipping boxes using paper tissue to protect products with the minimum amount of packing tape need to secure each product to ensure safe travel to each destination.
Our efforts are to be as environmentally responsible as possible while producing a unique product-line.
References: (a) https://leathersmithe.com/tanning-methods-and-the.html