Bespoke belts: Carving out a niche for sustainable local craftsmanship

No two of them are alike. Carved from wood by skilled local artisans, the belt buckles from designer Hindy Weber-Tantoco's new line are the result of her combining her two advocacies: promoting both local fashion and craftsmanship and environmental sustainability.

“Each belt buckle is individually carved by an artist; there is no mold or resin,” she said. “The artist uses his own skill, movement and instinct in creating the buckle. So even the same artist cannot reproduce the exact same belt.”

The craftsmen working on the pieces come from a long line of wood carvers from a historic town the designer does not name, and Tantoco admits to encountering resistance at first. Being very protective of their customs and tradition, the carvers initially found it challenging to work on unfamiliar designs. However, the security of the work and the opportunity of honing their skills in a new way convinced them to agree to the partnership.

“The one I work closely with is a woodcarving teacher and a musician as well. He not only makes decorative objects but musical instruments too,” said Tantoco.

And being true to her campaign of ethical living, Tantoco sources wood from fallen trees and scraps of furniture. “I also use very minimal wood so it’s not wasteful,” she added.

The wood is kiln-dried and finished with water-based varnish, then painted with low-VOC paint (meaning the paint has smaller amounts of the volatile organic compounds—VOCs—found in regular paint). The buckle is about 4 to 6 inches in width, with handles on each side to which the sash can be tied. Each belt comes with two sashes, measuring around 90 inches. And each buckle promises to have a curve that molds to a woman’s body.

“As a fashion designer, I have a high regard for accessories because they can make or break an outfit. The simplest dress can come alive with the right accessory. Alternately, the prettiest dress can be destroyed by a wrong one. Belts are one of the most useful and attainable accessories,” the designer said.

The making of each belt also requires involvement from the client.

The process begins with the client choosing a design from the eight buckle designs initially launched, and placing an order through hindywtantoco@yahoo.com.

Then you choose from different types of finish, including ebony, natural, and antique gold. The hand-painted finish is done by a separate set of artists who ascertain that the raw beauty of the wood remains evident.

The last step would be to choose the sash from an array of luxurious fabrics.

After two and a half weeks of waiting comes your bespoke belt, with the assurance that there is no other like it. — BM, GMA News