Craftsmanship instead of mass production

Most belts today are made in factories, produced quickly and designed to be interchangeable. Our belts from ANTIG BELTS take a different approach. They are not mass-produced, but rather crafted in a traditional process, with each piece embodying time, skill and tradition.

Origin in Guatemala

Our belts are made in Guatemala, in the region around Antigua in the Sacatepéquez department. The central highlands have been known for their weaving skills for centuries. These techniques date back to the Mayan era and have been passed down from generation to generation to this day.

Traditional weaving

The manufacturing process combines textile and leather into a single piece. For the fabric, cotton is processed into fibres and dyed with natural dyes.

Yellow and green are obtained from the Palo de Pito plant, while the Indigo plant provides the blue. After dyeing, the threads are woven on a traditional loom using the backstrap loom technique, a method that has been used unchanged for centuries.

Once a fabric is finished, it is rolled up and prepared for further processing. This artisanal method results in slight differences in pattern and colour gradient. It is precisely these nuances that give each belt its own character.

Leather processing

Leather processing begins at the same time as the weaving. The underside of our belts is made of cowhide leather, which is first thinned to the appropriate thickness and then cut to size.

Once the leather and fabric have been prepared, the two materials are joined together. The woven fabric is glued to the leather and additionally interwoven at the sides. This reinforcement ensures exceptional durability and makes the belt more robust.

Dyed goatskin is used for the side interweaving. Its natural structure can lead to subtle colour variations, another sign of genuine craftsmanship. The leather strips are processed while damp, smoothed and then dried in the sun so that the material and shape set permanently.

The final touches

In the final phase, the belts are adjusted to their respective lengths. This is followed by the buckle, rivets, hole markings and eyelets. With these final steps, each belt is finished and ready to be worn.

With ANTIG BELTS, we are consciously taking a stand against fast fashion. Natural materials and dyes reduce environmental impact, and the manufacturing process focuses on durability rather than disposable production.

At the same time, each production run helps to preserve a centuries-old craft tradition and support the people who continue it with their knowledge and work.