Standards & Ethics

Ethics

Since 2008, all products offered by Held Gear are made to last, promote recycling, are sourced in the USA while never being derived from animals.

American-made means stronger labor and environmental controls, the inertia of our dollars going faster and further in supporting small business and the communities we actually live in.

Vegan means that no living thing gave its life, or was treated with cruelty, toward the production of this product.

All products are assembled by hand, packaged with recycled materials, and shipped from Tucson, Arizona.

Sourcing

Components are sourced through American distributors. Direct trade is preferred, but that is not often possible.

Distributors must declare the origin of their catalogue items. Product listings include a breakdown of national sourcing under “Components.” See example below.

This design comes from a belt made on an American strap, with a Taiwanese buckle and snap set, and an Italian belt keeper. All three nations rank among the highest in human rights, economic, labor, and environmental standards.

Ready-made apparel items are exclusively sourced from manufacturers who produce textiles in American factories.

Berry Compliant materials are sourced when possible.

Some products may be made with recycled and refurbished materials, and those will be noted in the product description.

Assembly Standards

All Held Gear products are assembled by hand with passive mechanical tools. Irregularities are to be expected, given this small-scale build process.

Belts may include irregularities not exceeding 1/16 of an inch. For example, belt notches should fall exactly in the middle of the strap (+/- 1/16″) from edge to edge, and the same goes for the distance between each notch.

The same standards are held for the installation of spikes, grommets, buckle grooves, and so on.

Ready-made apparel such as tee shirts are inspected for quality to the best of our ability at any time prior to being sold as augmented Held products.

Irregular products may be purchased at a discount, partial refunds may be provided if a purchased product failed to hold the standards above.

Product Durability and Warranty

Held belts are made with industry proven materials and have proven to last three years before losing cosmetic quality, plus another five years or more after becoming visibly worn. For this reason, any strap product provides for a three-year guarantee.

In the case of ready-made apparel products, these are selected based upon reputation for durability, however no specific guarantee can be made by Held Gear beyond that which is provided for by the original manufacturer.

A simple guarantee is provided for as part of the Return Policy.