Coke Genuine Python Barbed Wire Plate Belt

Some belts walk into a room and announce themselves. This one leans on the bar, orders a whisky and waits for you to notice it. You will. The python here is in a colour we call Coke, and it’s one of the most mellow, easy-going exotics I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Look closely and the scales shift between deep dark chocolate and soft milk chocolate, with a warm coppery glow where the light catches the edges. The matte finish keeps all of that rich and understated rather than flashy, so you get every bit of the texture and character of python without any of the swagger. Underneath, a soft nubuck lining gives it a lovely supple feel against you. Then there’s the buckle, which comes from a collaboration with our artist friend Zach Seligman. Zach makes each one by hand on his ranch in Montana, working mild steel and hammering it into shape before adding a claw hammer texture across the surface. The finishing touch is a length of barbed wire that has spent years doing its job on the ranch, recycled, hammered flat and welded on. The whole piece is then torch blown at high temperature, which draws out smoky blues, violets and gunmetal tones in the steel while the barbed wire turns a golden highlight. That gold is what makes this pairing work so beautifully. It picks up the golden brown running through the scales, so buckle and strap feel as though they grew up together. Being entirely handmade, no two buckles are ever the same, and each one carries its own little piece of ranch history. A limited edition collector’s piece, and a wonderful story to tell when someone asks, which they will. Because the leather holds so many tones, it’s far more versatile than you might expect. Denim is the obvious home, whether that’s dark indigo or something well washed, with a white tee or an oatmeal knit and a pair of suede boots. But don’t be afraid to dress it up a little. Try it with olive or navy chinos, a cream rollneck and a tobacco cord jacket, and it becomes a quietly confident autumn look with real personality. It works well for both men and women too, looking fantastic with high-waisted jeans and a tucked cream shirt, or worn over a long knit under a camel coat. Brown with this much depth sits happily alongside navy, olive, grey, camel and cream, so it earns its place far more often than you’d think. The strap is handcrafted in our small Spanish atelier, where a small team takes the time needed to get every detail right, and the buckle is forged by hand on a ranch in Montana. Two continents, one rather special belt. Please note that these buckles are entirely handmade and no two will ever be the same, so the buckle you receive may look a little different from the image. Our python is sourced in full compliance with CITES regulations, ensuring it comes from legal, traceable and sustainably managed supply. Due to restrictions on exotic skins, this belt can only be shipped within the UK. If you are outside of the UK please enquire before buying.