Category: News

  • Crypto payments postponed

    Once again, the flaw of centralized systems reveals itself. That is discontinuity. This website utilizes free and open source software called WordPress, which has a standard commerce plugin called WooCommerce. Both of these systems are very secure, durable, and in some respects decentralized.

    There was a third system involved called CoinPayments, and they are discontinuing services in the United States. Through them as the fiat payment processor via another centralized exchange, I was able to offer payments in a variety of cryptocurrencies. I had selected Bitcoin and Litecoin, of course, and to give Ethereum a bone, Shiba Inu.

    Given that my whole system here is dependent on these outfits continuing to get up in the morning, I have to suspend CoinPayments and seek a new solution.

    The reason provided by CoinPayments has everything to do with the market in the U.S. and its regulatory environment. For instance, the value of one Litecoin is roughly the same as one Mammoth belt. If I receive dollars, I am taxed on the profit of that sale. If I convert crypto to dollars, then I am taxed on capital gains, but all I did was make a sale. This environment was created by centralized banking and secured by federal taxation.

    Held Gear believes in the power of cryptocurrencies toward a people powered economy and that these currencies will be essential when Held open up to international sales.

    Short of returning to a pre-networked, pre-telegraphed world, the likelihood of a non-digital currency dominating our system in the future is almost zero. Whatever it is, it should be networked by the people.

    Looking forward to reaching a solution and reintroducing crypto in a more directly managed way. It might not be possible in the WooCommerce checkout system. I might offer cash mail order and crypto transactions using a form module. We shall see.

  • Day Jawn is our Grand Opening in Philadelphia

    Day Jawn is our Grand Opening in Philadelphia

    Kismet is the first event that I applied to as a local vendor, this coming June 4, Held Gear will have a booth at Day Jawn, put on by FRNDS Studios. It is a pop up mall of local vendors in the ambience of North Portland’s sculpture gardens, with the ambience of great local DJ’s.

    Following the Day Jawn is Night Jawn, at the warehouse on Watts, it keeps the DJ night going as a stand-alone event.

    Speaking for myself as the new owner, Sean, I love music above all, and I love to dance. I love real, gritty spaces, and creative people. I cannot imagine a better event to reintroduce Held in Philly than this event.

    I also cannot imagine a better built-in celebration for myself. I cannot wait to make a bunch of new friends and party together.

    Held Gear is moving fast regardless of any sales that may or may not happen at Day Jawn. I believe we’ll move a good chunk of inventory, but I quickly establishing new and scrap material to establish Held Belts inside main street retailers across the U.S., while maintaining consistent inventory online.

    Sales have been happening. Customers were very gracious about my hiccups along the way. Held is coming back. And I love it.

    Saturday June 04
    3-10 PM
    Day Jawn
    1717 N. Hancock Street, Philadelphia

    Advance Tickets on Eventbrite

  • Production to Resume Soon

    Last week, the deed was done. I met up with Founder Micah (Twin) in Why, Arizona, spending two nights and three days on his wildlife refuge. Proceeds from Held Gear will benefit his community work.

    I captured video and photos every step of the way. The goal is to cut a little documentary together about the experience.

    In addition to more than 50 units counted on his floor, we can nearly double that after I finish building up existing materials for a new batch of Mammoth, Auroch, Groove, and Sky belts.

    I will purchase new classic black belt material from our fabricator and this will be the first design to go back into production after the above mentioned pieces are complete.

    Contacts for scrap belt material will be redeveloped. It turns out the same manufacturer that Twin worked with in Portland, Oregon has another site in the Philadelphia suburbs. This whole thing is kismet.

    These steps will take place over the course of May. First thing is to build and ship what I can, here in Tucson, today. Next is to complete the transfer of assets to Philly. When that is successful, it’s simply a matter of setting up my shop at home and pushing ahead.

    The community around this brand is beginning to develop again. It is wonderful to behold.

    Full inventory on May 6, 2022, on Twin’s floor.

  • Livestream Interview of HELD Founder Micah Perry with New Owner Sean Ongley

    Livestream interview with Sean Ongley

    Watch the new owner of Held Gear discuss the life and times of founder Micah Perry, learning why he decided to transfer his business to Sean Ongley.

    Over the next week, the baton will be passed in the form of training Sean (that’s me) on how to build a belt. The last scraps of material will be sufficient to produce a few more units, in addition to the 35 currently for sale on this website and the Etsy shop.

    Items can be backordered exclusively on this shop, while all items sold at Etsy are guaranteed to be in stock.

    Please watch this video in its entirety if you care about HELD as a brand, its ethics, and you want to understand where it came from and where it is going.

    This isn’t the whole picture but its a good conversation and you get to know us. We are spiritual, ethical, anarchists.