The Atelier Bertrand Reversible Belt has a lot going in its favor. It looks great, it’s made with high caliber leather, it’s reversible, and it’s affordable. I haven’t been able to spend much time with this belt, but so far I’m impressed, and love wearing it. They are currently running a Kickstarter for this product which can be found here.
About Atelier Bertrand
Atelier Bertrand, founded in 2015 and based in Paris, has a somewhat unique sales approach that I’m a fan of.
First, they sell direct to consumer, which keeps prices down. In fact, seeing the exorbitant pricing on luxury items is what prompted Jerome, the founder, to start his company. Influenced by some of the most well known premium brands in the world, Jerome wanted to make luxury available to a larger audience.
In addition, Atelier Bertrand has a great approach to bespoke. If you want, you can just give your size and order a jacket. However, you can also customize any part of your jacket you wish. Different leathers can be used (they even have some fun exotics like reindeer!), different colors, etc. Each product is made for the individual, which results in one-of-a-kind leathergoods. Construction takes place in France. Hides are sourced from trusted French tanneries and individually inspected for quality.
Leather & Construction
The Reversible Belt is made with full-grain, finished calf leather. This results in a nice soft touch, but with plenty of the sturdiness offered by cowhide. As you might guess from a reversible belt, it’s made with two layers of leather, with a reinforcing layer sandwiched between them. All edges are precisely stitched and painted for a very finished look. Buckles are made of nickel free brass. The materials and construction of this belt are perfectly suited for their purpose as a luxurious, formal belt.
Function
Truthfully, there often isn’t much to say about a belt’s functionality in a review! However, Atelier Bertrand has given us a unique take differing from the typical prong closure belt.
First, the buckle. Both ends of the belt pass underneath the buckle, secured by a metal loop and a stud. The excess leather comes out a small ways from the buckle, but is difficult to notice. Overall you’ve got a really clean look. It can be a little difficult to pull the stud out of one side of the belt for removal, but I imagine this will loosen up over time.
Then we have the belt itself. It’s reversible! By pulling both ends off the stud, you can switch the belt around and get a different color with the same functionality.
Note that you’ll need to get your sizing just right, as these belts only come with three sizing holes for about 3″ of adjustment. This does mean fewer holes to disrupt the look, so there are advantages to this.
Aesthetic
There’s a lot of beauty in simplicity. This belt exemplifies that well. The buckle, while unique, is even more simple and symmetrical than a standard prong buckle. Thread color matches the leather, and the finish on the leather is very smooth and uniform. Here we have a belt that stands out by not standing out, and I’m a big fan of such understated fashion.
Then, on the other side of the coin, this belt is reversible, giving some versatility. On top of that, it’s offered in a plethora of color combinations, some much louder than my black and tan version here. Anyone should be able to find a combination they like.
Conclusion
Pros: High end materials, solid construction, great low-profile and versatile look, reasonably priced.
Cons: Only a few inches of size adjustability.
Overall, I’m a huge fan of the Atelier Bertrand Reversible Belt. If you’re looking for a new belt, I highly recommend visiting their Kickstarter and backing this project. The Kickstarter features a ‘classic’ style in addition to this reversible one, as well.
