This Hollywood Trading Company "Sunburst" Belt with Turquoise End (Natural Tan) belongs to our Melbourne Staff - Charles, who shares:

" I purchased this HTC belt from Lee at CORLECTION 13 years ago, when I was living in Sydney. Lee told me that this was an exceptionally rare batch from HTC which HTC carefully selects flawless vegetable-tanned cowhide without scratches or scars, so the leather requires no dyeing process. However, for CORLECTION, HTC made just 12 pieces of this Natural Tan version at the time.

Back then, I thought AUD 297 was quite a lot to spend on a belt. But I trusted Lee’s judgement and knowledge of the products, so I bought it without a second thought. Fast-forward 13 years, and this belt has been part of my everyday wardrobe ever since. It has aged beautifully through years of regular wear and remains one of my all-time favourite pieces in my collection!"

" The original colour of this undyed cowhide was almost white. For the past 13 years, I’ve worn this belt almost every day whenever I head out, pairing it with everything from denim and chinos to shorts. With years of regular wear and monthly leather care, the leather has gradually transformed into a beautiful chocolate brown, developing a unique sheen that only comes with time, use and proper care."

" This belt features HTC’s Chicago-Construction, allowing me to adjust the fit slightly whenever I gain or lose weight. I reckon this is one of the main reasons I’ve been able to wear it almost every day for the past 13 years!"

" I especially love the Sunburst design with the turquoise stone at the end! Lee once told me that the little round studs are actually made of brass with a silver coating. After nearly a decade of wear, I started to notice the golden brass shining through as the silver coating gradually wore away. And even after 13 years of hard wear, I haven’t lost a single stud! I guess I’ve been pretty lucky (laughs)."

" After 13 years of everyday wear, the brass buckle and studs on this HTC belt have picked up plenty of scratches, while the cowhide has gradually darkened and developed a beautiful, rich sheen. I truly appreciate this kind of Wabi-Sabi aesthetic — the beauty of imperfection that comes with time, use and life itself.

That’s just LIFE, isn’t it? You win some, you lose some."