All About Unbelts Part 2: All About Intrepid
In the first part of this series on our core 4 styles, we introduced you to the OG Unbelt - the Classic. Now it’s time to meet its rugged, high-performance cousin: the Intrepid.
Background:
The Intrepid was designed during a transitional period here at Unbelts. Claire had recently moved back to Edmonton after 6 years in Shanghai. The Classic was a hit! But we were starting to notice something; people saw the Classic as a women’s belt. It was carried in the women’s section of stores, and people were asking us: “where’s the belt for men?”.
As a queer-affirming, feminist business, we believe that clothing has no gender. We also recognize that clothing is a form of self-expression, and gender is part of that. Everybody should be able to find an Unbelt that makes them feel like their best self. If the Classic wasn’t doing that for masc-presenting people, it was time for something new.
During this time, we were also hearing feedback from sportspeople and tradespeople. They wanted a stronger, grippier belt that could keep up with high-impact activities and heavy workwear. This guidance fundamentally shaped the design trajectory of the Intrepid.
Lastly, we wanted to explore insourced manufacturing, and check out recent textile recycling innovations. Prototyping a new belt gave us a chance to test-drive YEG-based sewing. We loved sewing local so much that we moved the whole cut-and-sew portion of our business to Edmonton in 2023. Thanks, Intrepid!
Manufacturing and composition:
Every Intrepid was cut and sewn at our Edmonton sewing studio, located at Unbelts HQ. Our current lead sewist is Amy, whom you may recognize as the jeans wizard responsible for Denim Rescue. Intrepid hardware comes from Lydia’s buckle factory. The elastic comes from Mr. Wang’s factory. Our care tags come from Mr. Yeung’s label and packaging factory. Our suppliers are located in and around Dongguan, Guangdong province, in south China.
Intrepid elastic is made from:
- 63% recycled polyester (rPET) - this synthetic fibre is derived from polyethylene terephthalate; the plastic found in soda bottles and takeout containers.
- 37% recycled latex - latex is what gives the belts their ultra-accommodating stretch. Our latex is completely encased in other fibres, making it less likely to trigger allergies.
- Silicone rubber backing - keeps the belt in place by gripping the waistband of your pants.
Intrepid hardware is cast from recycled zinc alloy. Each piece of hardware receives a hypoallergenic powder coat. As a bonus, our specific blend of metals doesn’t trigger most airport scanners. If airport security can’t see the belt, you can proceed to your gate beep-free!
Features:
| Elastic texture? | Smooth & glossy |
| Elastic colour? | Basics & brights |
| Closure type? | Slide & lock |
| Hardware colour? | Matte silver |
| Size range? | 0-5X, continuous |
| Washable in belt loops? | Yes |
| Sewn in Canada? | Always |
| Warranty period? | Lifetime warranty |
| In-house repairs? | You bet! |
Learn more about our warranty and repair policies here.
Variants:
Collab belts - The smooth surface of our Intrepid elastic makes it a prime candidate for sublimation dyeing. Over the years, we’ve collaborated with local artists and organizations to create beautiful belts that give back.
Breasts and Chests: "This design is intended to be a colourful confetti of chests, including many kinds of chests you don't see represented enough: man boobs, single mastectomy chests, chest-feeding boobs, top surgery scars and more..." - Spencer Blackwood of Prairie Fruit Arts, speaking on their design.
$15 from each belt sold goes to Shades of Colour, an organization providing "QTBIPOC mutual aid , harm reduction and anti violence resources".
2-Spirit Indigenous Pride: Designed by the renowned 2-Spirited Cree artist Lance Cardinal, "The four hearts seen on the design represent the sash and flag of the Métis people, the drum of the First Nations, and the inukshuk of the Inuit. The braids of the sweetgrass unite all people together as one Indigenous Nation".
$15 from each belt sold goes to the Edmonton 2-Spirit Society. Per their website, "E2S is an intergenerational organization that serves 2 Spirit and Indigenous queer and trans people, their family members, and community members, to help establish opportunities for 2 Spirits to hold community shaping power".
Almost-Perfects - We have Almost-Perfects across all styleways, but the program originated with Intrepid and our move to local cut-and-sew. Almost-Perfects have 1-2 sewing oopsies/elastic defects which do not impede the functionality of the belt. They’re sold at a $5 markdown, appearing online a few times a year and in-store year round. Almost-Perfects help us keep our studio waste under 5%!
Choose Intrepid If:
You're looking for a design that's gender agnostic.
Your pants are a size or two too big.
You need to keep your pants up through dynamic activities such as hiking, skiing and bending over to retrieve your toddler before they get into the cat food.
If you have any questions about the Intrepid, leave them in the comments. Stay tuned for our next installment: All About (Re)Mix.