As a fan of all unique #menswear items, I was extremely pleased to be introduced to Manyatta. They create beaded belts that are either a fun design or represent a club or group. It’s very unique and very stylish. What’s cool about these belts is how they are made: each belt is fully manufactured in Kenya.
They are beaded by Maasai “mamas” in Kenya, which is a centuries-old tradition that they have perfected. The belt leather is from Kenyan cows, and the brass buckles are recycled in Kenya. Each belt has more than 6000 beads…which is insane if you think about it.
Creating these belts is a highly social activity, one that brings communities of women together. The belts are strung by hand in the homesteads and back yards – NOT in factories.
Browsing through their website is incredible. There are hundreds of designs on the site and many more that aren’t (private clubs all over the world). I’ve gotten to know Stuart Squire – the guy who runs the show at Manyatta. He’s quite the gentleman, and very passionate about his belts. We did a Q&A that will help all of you understand:
What is the history of Manyatta? I am incredibly lucky to be a member of the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) in London, generally considered to be the most exclusive cricket club in the world and keeper of cricket’s laws. Having lived in Kenya previously, I decided to have a belt created in our club colors, not only as a one-off but I felt there was a gap in the market for bespoke Maasai belts in club, school, and regiment colors.
I also wanted to give something back to a country I loved (Kenya) and to support an impoverished Maasai community. I was teaching at a school that was a feeder to the likes of Eton and Harrow. Etonians and Harrovians loved them and I was asked to create more and more belts in club and school colours. We currently stand at around 350 different belts and a large group of Maasai are now earning money so I feel it’s a win-win situation for Manyatta, the Maasai, and our customers.
What sets these belts apart? There is no other company in the world (yet!?) that makes Maasai beaded belts to commission. I know there are lots of wonderful belt brands in the US and UK that create bespoke belts for clubs but none whose belts are made in Kenya and using beads. Each belt takes around 2-3 days to hand-bead and we are truly ethical. Each order makes a vital difference – the money earned by the Maasai tends to go mainly to pay for school and university fees.
What kind of guy is a Manyatta customer? Currently, our demographic is the privately educated chap who may well be a member of certain members-only clubs. He is likely to have a strong social conscience and keen to give back and the ethical side of Manyatta appeals to him. Golf clubs are our most important customers (Muirfield, Royal St George’s, Secession, etc.) but we create for other sports such as tennis, rugby, and cricket. We also create for private clubs in London and Scotland such as The Cavalry & Guards and we recently designed for The Brook in New York City. Discretion means I do not want to give names and details, but let’s just say the British Royal Family are familiar with Manyatta. Hopefully, I am not sounding boastful!
How do you like to see your belts styled? We have a saying in the company… ‘The old club tie is not a tie at all. It’s a Manyatta belt.’ With ties falling out of fashion and a smart-casual look more and more popular, we feel our belts are best suited to a more relaxed environment – the sports club, smart but not stuffy parties and occasions, and generally a time when you are proud to display your allegiance to your club.
What do you like to do outside of running Manyatta? My 3 main passions are cricket, shooting, and skiing. I wish I was attracted to cheaper pastimes!
What is on your Spotify Playlist? Well…..truthfully I guess I had better download the app! My tastes are ridiculously eclectic. I can switch from Adele to Guns N’ Roses in an instant!
I got my hands on a couple of belts (and have my eye on a few more!). I can attest to the quality, especially for what they charge for the belts. The stitching is tight, the beads are bright, and the leather is top quality. And these belts are just cool. Very cool:
You can see the whole Manyatta collection here.
These are really cool belts, but I would feel like a poser or try hard wearing one since they are mainly for clubs, schools, or sports I have little to no association with to justify getting one. Especially the belts I think are the best looking.
Pretty funny how all the belts are for English schools and…. Christ School in Arden, NC.