Held Gear is a vision for a more sustainable future, founded in Portland, Oregon by vegan activist and artist Micah Perry, in 2008. Micah diverted new scrap conveyor belting from the landfill to innovate the Held Vegan Belt, building them with unique recycled buckles.
Micah began selling his new product at local markets and Etsy, and soon opened a HELD storefront. That same year, he was diagnosed with cancer, but he persevered. Treatment and surgeries protracted for a decade, but he persevered and the business survived online.
In 2018, he relocated to Why, Arizona. Today, he lives a healthy, peaceful life, running a low powered FM signal at 106.9 FM, developing a wildlife refuge on his land, he decided to give up the brand to see HELD move into a new era in which its mission was more relevant than ever.
No designs were assigned a gender, none were derived from animals, and all of it was built to last using American-made materials. That is why “durable American-made gear for everyone Ⓥ” is the slogan today.
Hi, I am Sean, I got my first held belt in 2009. I helped him close the storefront in 2012. I visited him every winter in Arizona since 2018, when I also moved to Philadelphia. In 2022, when I learned he wanted to pass on the brand, I volunteered to do it.
Today, I proudly carry on the HELD legacy with its classic product line, while seeking new opportunities for apparel. The HELD brand stands against the tide of fast fashion and will only reinforce itself as a standard bearer for ethics in apparel.