A smart belt can be the perfect finishing touch to an outfit and young brand FH Wadsworth provides them. Started in the summer of 2014 with a Kickstarter campaign, the company offers an amazing assortment of ribbon and printed-leather waist cinchers that are all made in the USA and seamlessly blend traditional preppy with contemporary cool.
Co-founder Jimmy Dominkewicz, who has a background in engineering as opposed to fashion design, recently shared the story behind this beauty of a belt brand, which is sold at its own online shop and in independent shops across the country.
What the background of FH Wadsworth?
When the opportunity came to start FH Wadsworth, a good friend of mine and I jumped on it. We wanted to develop a high quality belt, with fun designs and colors not found elsewhere. We launched on Kickstarter in the summer of 2014 and validated the idea by raising over $20,000. From there we steadily added new products, and expanded both online and wholesale. We currently sell in around 50 doors throughout the U.S.
Where does the name come from?
We wanted to have a fun name, and loosely based it off of my former business partner who initially helped bring the company to life. The name fit the brand, and just stuck.
What are some of your favorite and/or bestselling items at the moment?
For ribbon belts it’s definitely our Selvedge belt, Snowbird belt, and Kingfisher. For leather tab belts it’s our Jefferson, Pacific, and Carousel. And our brand new camouflage in genuine leather is getting a ton of attention lately. But then again, there’s really no bad choice!
Who is your customer?
You can’t deny the preppy nature of our belts, but we try to appeal to a wide-ranging audience with unique our portfolio of products. Our ribbon belts have a great deal of versatility, are unisex, and can be worn in many different ways. So it’s definitely the preppy type, but also consumers who want a quality made, unique accessory that allows them to “stand out from the crowd.”
Where are the items sourced and made?
All ribbon is made in the U.S. with some premium wools and fabrics sourced in England. All products made in Midtown Manhattan.
How extensive is the collection?
There are ribbon belts, pet accessories, leather credit card holders, and leather tab belts (including wool, velvet, and other premium fabrics).
What sets the brand apart from other belt brands?
Quality: If you’ve seen our belts in person, you’ll understand. There is amazing attention to detail, and the quality of material is exceptional.
Made in NYC: With so much production moving overseas, we have really emphasized the importance of having our belts made here in the USA. All of our products are made in the USA.
Unique designs: Our ribbon belt designs are very unique, with a wide-ranging assortment of color not found elsewhere, and intricate concentration of stripes.
Ribbon belts: The overall construction of our ribbon belt differentiates us from competitors. There’s no obnoxious seam across the D-ring end, and we have a handcrafted pointed tip on the end of the belt. In addition, our belts are much thicker than competitor belts, and have a fused liner which makes the belt cinch much better, and adds longevity.
How did your dog accessories come about and what has the reaction been to them?
I have always been a dog lover. I have a small morkie (Maltese/Yorkie mix) named Duckie and she has been the best thing to ever happen to me (aside from my wife!). It was only a matter of time before we started creating beautiful dog leashes and colors with our ribbon. It’s great to see smaller sized boutiques across the U.S. carry both our belts and dog accessories. Duckie helps choose the ribbon designs…
What are the plans for the brand?
We have huge plans for FH Wadsworth, and we’ll continue to add new belt designs, and innovate with new materials. In addition, we have watchstraps and other fun surprises in the pipeline.
How long does it take to receive the monogrammed options?
Monogrammed belts are completed in NYC and approximately 10-14 days for delivery, a much shorter duration than typical competitor monogrammed products.
What are the top reasons readers of The Manual should check out and wear the brand?
We feel like we have the best ribbon belt out there. Super quality belts, made in the USA, at a reasonable price – belts that allow you to stand out from the crowd. Whether it’s a polka dot ribbon belt, or a Aubergine velvet belt, we got you covered!
