The equestrian lifestyle in its purest sense has historically been built on the pursuit of the perfection. An unparalleled level of dedication has been required through the centuries to hone training techniques across the disciplines as well as the apparel and equipment that are required for all related activities.
One of my biggest passions in life, both in business and academic endeavors, is to study what differentiates those that pursue quality for the sake of fulfillment as opposed to pure monetary reward. These are the people that are not willing to cut corners within their craft. Contemporary scholars have recently coined the term “Meta-luxury” and this concept of true-luxury is the unique achievement based on the pillars of craftsmanship, focus, history and rarity.
Upon my first conversation with Stuart Simko, I knew he embodied all of the traits of true-luxury as applied to his work with leather, specfically belts. I adore the aspect of my career when I connect with like-minded individuals and meeting Stuart has been one of the highlights of the last year. When I wear a belt handcrafted by him, I know it is a piece of art that has been created just for me and every detail has been carefully thought out and built to the best of his abilities.
I can not do justice in describing the story of C.S. Simko, but instead I will provide you with the artisan's own words as to why a belt from the collection is a piece of unparalleled luxury.
Salut!
by Stuart Simko
INSPIRED BY NEED
I have always enjoyed fashion, style, and art…. My mind always floated from idea to idea about what I would do if I had a company, but I always found the ability to transition my ideas to reality to be quite difficult. I wanted to do something special, and create something that was the best in its class and timeless.
There was a point back in 2011 that I simply could not find a belt for myself or wife that I loved, so I started to learn how to make one for myself. That process was way more involved than I could have ever realized as I focused all of my energy on gaining the knowledge base to craft something truly special. I started to get feedback on items that I had made for family, friends and myself and it was all exceptionally positive. I realized I could sell my belts and keep all of the production in house. I don’t have to worry about someone cutting corners or not appreciating all that goes into the craftsmanship because I am crafting each belt personally. That is the special part of the company but at the same time one of the most tantalizing parts because I am always on a journey to make things better with each belt I craft. The product gets better everyday. It hope it never stops getting better either because that is what drives me.
HAND CRAFTED DETAILS
Each belt comes from an entire hide that we source from England and is English bridle leather from the best tanneries in the world. We cut each belt by hand as opposed to with large machines. Each belt hole is individually punched using a mallet and punch. The most labor-intensive process involves finishing all of the edges by hand to make them rounded and smooth. There are more ways to achieve this that I can count, and I am always playing with new methods to create the perfect edge. I love the way our edges are finished currently but I am never satisfied. I am always searching for knowledge to make them better. Are there faster ways to make a belt, absolutely, but I feel that each step in this process allows a connection with the belt and makes it a work of art more so than just a product unit. I also feel that I can create the best possible product this way, so in order to achieve the creation of a work of art that is also the best quality possible, I take the long way.
SEARCHING FOR THE BEST LEATHERS
We only use the best leather we can find. I source the grand majority of my leather from a particular tannery in England that uses a painfully slow traditional method of oak bark tanning that takes 14-18 months to tan a hide which is in comparison to other tanneries that tan hides over a 3-4 week period of time or even over the course of a day with some tanning methods. The result is an exceptionally durable, supple and truly magnificent hide. My job is simply to finish the leather properly, pair it with a beautifully designed and crafted brass buckle, and let the leather that has been crafted the same way for hundreds and hundreds of years do the talking.
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PLEASURE FROM PURSUING PERFECTION
The most rewarding thing about our company revolves around 3 things that are all different, but are all dependent on each other. The first is a personal drive to continue to learn a craft and be able to create art that is what I hope to be considered timeless. The second is the relationships that I have been able to make through this experiment. I like to think of it as an experiment more so than a company because it really is about creating something unique, timeless, and special more so than a profit. It is about being able to talk to people and explain why our products are special and the friendships I have made through my interactions. I now have clients from all over the world who share the same passion for products that have a soul to them and many of those relationships have led to true friendships. To hear the reactions that people have when they experience our products just drives me to make a better product everyday.
I also love my relationships with the team of equestrians that I provide goods. They are like a family to me and I depend on their feedback to make a better product. It is a true pleasure to watch them compete and give their all to perfect their craft as that is what we strive to do as well.
APPRECIATED BY EQUESTRIANS
I think the fact that our belts are crafted using harness buckle that has been used since the 1890’s and with the best bridle leather in the world, makes the connection quite natural. There is no other group of people in the world that understand leather better than equestrians. Also equestrians wear belts on a daily basis and need something that will last the test of time, which is another reason that we focused our attention to help their needs.
DETAILS: Winston Equestrian USA Huntcoat finished with topstitching paired with C.S. Simko custom fawn colored suede belt
As I noted earlier, we have a team of eventers that we are currently sponsoring that compete all of the world. My goal is that we would have a family type atmosphere to our team. When they need or want something, I make it up for them. They really have inspired me to try new things and ultimately make a better product everyday.
NEVER COMPROMISE
I was asked recently if I would start a lower price point line that would be mass produced with a lower quality level, and I said no within 2 seconds of being asked a question that I had never come to my mind. I responded by saying, that is just not what we do. The goal is to put every bit of my heart and soul into a product and if I cannot do that, then it is not worth it. Profits are never the goal, accomplishments are. The ultimate accomplishment I can achieve is when someone picks up one of our belts and realizes there is something different about it. They then have that realization of what makes a truly special product, and they can never look at leather the same way again. The knowledge is passed to them through a tangible interaction instantly. I think that is the hardest part of selling online because I can use words to tell people about the products, but it is not until they feel our products does that realization of quality occurs.
I look at this venture as more of an experiment that allows me to create beautiful and timeless products and to educate about what goes into crafting and designing beautiful products. I am currently playing with some other belt ideas but until I feel that they are just right, I will keep tinkering with them. I have played with the idea of handbags and totes and that is always in the back of my mind. I think ultimately the goal is not only to create beautiful products but also fill a need in the fashion world where there is a void. That is why I started making belts. I simply couldn’t find a belt for my wife or myself that took my breath away, so I crafted it myself.
DETAILS: Der Dau custom boots paired with C.S. Simko harness leather black belt
PURCHASE
Consumers:
Our belts can be bought at Barneys New York at their New York Madison Ave location and Beverly Hills stores as well as their website. They are also available at RIDE, which is a fabulous high end equestrian store in Bedford, NY and through Luxe EQ, which is a high end equestrian boutique that travels throughout the country to different horse shows.
Belts, particularly custom orders, may also be purchased online at www.cssimko.com. The turn around time is approximately 2 weeks. Each and every belt is made from scratch and can be made as personal as possible (including monogram, date, etc.).
Retailer Inquiries:
stuart@cssimko.com
GENERAL CONTACT INFORMATION:
Stuart Simko 544 Crescent Ave Greenville, SC 29601 Stuart@cssimko.com cell:706-267-7934
Follow on INSTAGRAM @c.s.simko