Love At First Belt

One day, sometime during fall of 2016 l was staring at my closet trying to put an outfit together to go to work. I eventually decided to pair a dress with a cardigan sweater but I was still staring at my closet thinking to myself, “something is missing, not exactly a full on belt but what if there was a belt that cinched your garment of choice around your waist so your outfit can still be seen in the front seamlessly without any breaks. A belt but that was open in the front?!” Cue lightbulb. I came up with this idea to have a belt that would be open in the front to create a different look.

For the first time in a long time, I felt inspired and started daydreaming about the idea some more. After work, I would sketch designs and glue pictures into a notebook; pictures of outfits that I printed out or cut from magazines that I envisioned being paired with the belt. I glued pictures of other products and accessories that were similar for inspiration. I glued in Alex & Ani, Spanx, Kendra Scott and other known brands envisioning that maybe my idea could one day be a known name. I was discovering day by day that this activity made me feel alive and so I continued doing it.

I spent hours researching to see if it was already out there and luckily for me, the search yielded no results. Realizing more and more of how I enjoy problem-solving and always have, I started thinking of ways it could be made. I moved from daydreaming and visualizing about the idea to actually figuring out how to have it made. I experimented with various materials, fabric, metals and plastics; and learning a whole lot about design and products in general. I used my trusty scissors and Fiskars rotary cutter and made a cardboard version of what I had envisioned.

There’s something about conceptualizing an idea to creating some kind of tangible, real-life form even just made out of cardboard that feels so exhilarating and accomplished! It’s almost like tasting something new for the first time and it ends up being absolutely delicious! The deeper I got into creating, the more I unintentionally developed and nurtured a closer relationship with myself. I was truly enjoying the present moment of doing something that was exciting to me while making progress and evolving!

This became my hobby after work and on weekends. During and in between work, my mind would be occupied with the idea. I made sure I would finish my work early and spent the rest of the time researching this idea. I got to making molds out of metal, wood and plastic. I hit some roadblocks along the way but none that I was unable to get past. I was getting closer. My idea evolved from how I initially thought it would need to be made to a functioning and cost-effective version. I emailed what must have been hundreds of companies to figure out and get the parts that I needed as well as have some parts custom made. I was a regular at my favorite stores: Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and Michaels even The Home Depot, TW Perry, Lowe's and Ace Hardware. After much trial and error, I finally made it!!! I even looked into patenting the product and filed for a design patent.

I brainstormed names to brand the product and eventually decided on Beltlys (pronounced beltless). I now have a website and social media accounts. I still have a lot to do in trying to get the product out there but I’m doing it all while continuing to enjoy the process. THE moment I realized, “I really made it happen! It’s all come to fruition!” outside of actually making the product is when I received my open front belt design patent in the mail. I’m the only patent holder that I know of in my life. It’s not so much the feeling of being one of the few people in the world to hold a patent (let alone a black woman) that makes me proud of myself - it’s the tenacity and persistence that I had to get the ball rolling and follow-through despite challenges along the way that I’m most proud of! It was all just an idea in my head until I put it on paper, created it and made it into a reality. I told myself I was going to make this into a thing and now here is official documentation giving me the exclusive rights to the design. I’m a certified USPTO inventor that’s created a subcategory within the fashion accessories industry. I have other designs in the works and plan to add clothing to my brand in the near future. Furthermore, I have been selected by a few major companies and television networks to showcase my product and my biggest takeaway is that these experiences were testimonies to the product’s appeal and potential.

As much as I’ve enjoyed making the belt into a reality, it’s the journey that has been the most meaningful. That’s the beauty of creativity and that is what I love about being able to create. Something as simple as a pair of scissors can help create something that indirectly brings about happiness. By being open to learning and never stop being curious about the world around you and forever being a student, there’s no limit as to what you can create and who you can become. The best byproduct of it all has been the growth within myself and knowing what I’m capable of. In trying something new and following my instincts, I created and continue to create my own happiness.