Bill Niemczyk has made prototypes for Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren, among others, but the custom-leather craftsman saves his best skins and belt-making skills for those produced under his own William Julian label. Niemczyk often works in collaboration with silversmith Mark Kielty, whose limited-edition sterling and 18-karat-gold buckles are cast and grinded before each beveled surface—as many as 17 on a single design—is sanded and polished by hand.
Inside Information
Each of Niemczyk’s straps is hand cut from French calf, shark, ostrich, and other exotic materials, then dyed and coated with four coats of finish before the chemicals are heat set using original 19th-century hand tools.
