M&J Blog

By Milton

Fashion has gone green and so should you.  This week I designed an easy-to-make belt made from all natural materials.  The strap of the belt is made from Jute, the buckle from wood and the braid end from cotton twill tape.  This belt is the perfect accessory to a pair of light linen pants, jeans or a classic navy blue or tan A-line dress.

Originally from India, jute is an all-natural vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse, strong threads.  It is second in production to cotton and has a variety of uses.   It is one of the strongest natural fibers and in today’s world, it doesn’t hurt that it also happens to be 100% biodegradable.  This environmentally sound product requires little to no fertilizer or pesticides and is mainly exported from India and Bangladesh.

Supplies:

• 36mm Jute Braid (39853): Measure your waist and add about 7 or 8 inches to determine how much jute you will need.  Remember there are 36″ in a yard and usually materials are bought by the yard.
• 2 inches of medium brown 1″ twill tape
• 1 ½” Wood Buckle in Dark brown (29695)
• Glue
• Scissors

Directions:

1. Wrap the jute braid around your waist, add about 4 inches and cut to size.  If you want this belt to fit around your hips you will need to make it longer.
2. Take your piece of twill tape and apply a medium layer of fabric glue to one side, fold it in half and wrap it along one of the cut ends of your jute braid.  It should cover up any raw ends of the braid, which will prevent it from fraying. Cut any excess twill tape from the sides.
3. On the other end of the jute braid, guide it up through the bottom of the buckle and then back down so it comes out on the flatter bottom side.  Fold it over about 1 ½” and apply fabric glue to secure it.  Fabric glue generally requires a few minutes of pressure until it begins to dry. Most fabric glues dry within 15 minutes. 
4. And now you have your new eco-friendly belt!