Webbed belt explained

A webbed belt, military belt, or skater belt is a type of belt, normally made of webbing, distinguished by its belt buckle design and lack of holes in the cord, which is usually found in other belts where a pin is used as the fastening mechanism in the belt buckle. A belt of this type is often used in the uniforms of armed forces[1] as well as that of the Girl Scouts of the USA[2] and Boy Scouts of America, since it is adjustable, cheap to produce and does not deteriorate easily.

Webbed belts began to be used in more casual fashion beginning in the 1960s.

Design

The design of the belt buckle is usually a hollow metal rectangular box through which the cloth cord passes through, when fastened, a pin with the length equal to the width of the cord is pushed up from a groove and stops the cloth by increasing the amount of friction needed to pull the cloth cord further through the box. This mechanism removes the need for holes in the cord, which is a common feature on many other designs, it also allows the wearer to adjust the belt to the exact size needed, as it is not limited by the holes.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Tortora . Phyllis G. . The Fairchild Encyclopedia of Fashion Accessories . Abling . Bina . 2003-05-05 . Bloomsbury Publishing USA . 978-1-60901-420-9 . 77 . en.
  2. Book: Degenhardt . Mary . Girl Scout Collectors' Guide: A History of Uniforms, Insignia, Publications, and Memorabilia . Kirsch . Judith . 2005 . Texas Tech University Press . 978-0-89672-546-1 . 173 . en.