I first came to know Clayton & Crume a couple of years ago when I was in Louisville seeing my friends at Blade + Bow. JEP insisted we stop by, and I’m glad we did.
I’ve always appreciated good leather, especially at different levels. There’s Hermes and Ghurka, which I would argue are relatively delicate, but have their place in the conversation. They you have the utility leather – like Tory – which is made to be worked and used. Well, for most of us, we want something a little more ‘middle-80%’. Something that we don’t mind spending some money on, knowing it will a) last, and b) get better with age.
This is where Clayton & Crume come in. They product insanely nice leather goods (their catalog is quite impressive) and the pricing is very digestable. More to come on the company itself, but it’s safe to say that they line right up with the Red Clay Soul ethos.
Their Kentucky Belt is foundational to their catalog, being that they are based there, and the tack lifestyle is paramount. I pulled the trigger on one and decided to do something fun on the brass plaque (see pictures below).
Upon receipt, I got the fuss. It’s incredible. I knew immediately that this belt would outlive me. The leather is thick—it’s obvious from the jump. It even has that quality leather smell that we all know and love. I couldn’t be happier with the belt, it’s an immediate addition to the rotation. Please give them a look, folks. It’s worth your time.
Here are some images of my belt:
