Blue Tile Belt

2023, 34 X 1.5” Leather paint on a leather belt.

A couple of years ago, I spent hours scouring the internet for an interesting belt but emerged from my search empty-handed. Everything was either too much or too little. I wanted a belt that was more than a plain black or brown leather belt, but still something that could be worn every day—on a pair of jeans, on black trousers, on white linen pants, etc. I eventually decided to take matters into my own hands.

The design for this belt, the blue tile, was inspired by a lapis inlay pair of earrings that my mother created many years ago. At the time of creating this belt, I wore those earrings every day. Some part of me wanted my everyday belt to match my everyday earrings, but also, I truly love(d) these earrings and knew I would love anything that resembled them as much, and I was right. Since its making, I have worn the blue tile religiously. I also find it to be a great conversation starter in public, and an even better segue for sharing my work with new people.