Braided Belts: How They Work and How to Wear One

A braided belt is a leather strap woven from narrow strips, plaited over and under each other, so the buckle prong can pass through the weave at any point instead of through punched holes. That open structure gives it texture, a little give and a fit you can set to the centimetre. Our ME+EM shoes, bags and accessories guide covers the wider edit; this guide focuses on two new hand-woven belts from the house, the ME+EM Braided Belt in Black and the ME+EM Braided Belt in Merlot.

Below: how a braided belt is made, how to judge the leather, how to size one without holes, and which trousers it suits. For other belt constructions, see our guide to reversible belts.

How a braided belt is made

Strips of leather are cut, then woven by hand into a flat plait between a buckle end and a finished tip. The tightness of the weave sets how much the belt flexes: a closer weave sits flatter on the waist, a looser one shows more of each strip and moves with the body.

ME+EM describes both belts as hand-woven in Italy from soft Italian Nappa leather, listed as 100% cow leather. The house says the supple nature of the leather gives a flexible, malleable shape, and calls the finish surprisingly lightweight and soft. That suppleness is what you feel first when you handle a good braided belt: the strap bends without cracking at the crossings and settles back flat.

The buckle is rounded, with bespoke branded hardware in an Old English brass finish. A warm, aged brass sits well against both black and a deep red leather.

No holes: the practical advantage

A punched belt gives you five positions. A braided belt gives you every point along the weave. ME+EM notes that, due to the woven nature of the belt, there are no fixed punched holes, so it can be worn on the hips and on the waist. On the Merlot belt the house adds that the open weave means the prong fastens at any point.

That matters in two ways. First, one belt moves between a high-waisted trouser and a low-slung pair of jeans without leaving a stretched hole behind. Second, you can fasten it exactly where it sits flat, which keeps the strap from bunching at the side seams.

When fastening, push the prong between strips rather than through a single strip, and ease it out gently. Forcing it through the leather itself can split a strip over time.

Choosing black and Merlot

Black. The house says the black belt brings considered texture to denim and tailoring alike. It is the version for grey flannel, black wool and dark denim, where the weave adds surface without adding colour.

Merlot. ME+EM says Merlot makes its mark across its belt collection. A deep red reads as a neutral against brown, charcoal and olive, and it picks up burgundy and plum in knitwear. It is the stronger choice if your wardrobe is already built on brown shoes.

Which trousers to wear with a braided belt

Pinstripe barrel trousers. The ME+EM Pleated Barrel Trouser in Charcoal/Walnut is 100% wool flannel with a refined pinstripe and a soft brushed texture, with centre-front pleats and a relaxed fit. The Merlot belt warms the charcoal; see our guide to pinstripe trousers for women.

Wide-leg tailoring. The ME+EM Very Wide-Leg Trouser in Rich Olive Green and the ME+EM Braces Pant in Black both list a clever belt loop construction. With the braces unbuttoned, the black braided belt takes over on the Braces Pant.

Tapered and cropped shapes. The ME+EM Exaggerated Taper Trouser in Walnut Brown has a mid rise and double pleats; the ME+EM Crop Kick Flare Trouser in Claret Red has a mid rise and pressed creases. A belt worn tonally, Merlot on Claret Red, keeps the waist quiet.

Jeans. On denim, wear the belt slightly lower, on the hip, where the no-holes design comes into its own. More shapes are in our ME+EM trousers and jeans guide and our edit of barrel-leg trousers.

Comparison matrix: ME+EM braided belts

A 30 mm strap fits standard trouser loops. The trousers named above are all offered in UK 4 to 18 on ME+EM; we have not checked their loop widths.

How to size a braided belt

Because there are no holes, sizing is about the range of the weave, not a single centre hole. Measure round the trousers you will wear it with, at the loops, over the fabric. If you plan to wear the belt on the waist as well as the hip, take both measurements and pick the size that covers the larger one with weave to spare. ME+EM publishes the range as XS to XL but not the strap lengths, so check the size guide on the product page, and our ME+EM size guide, before ordering.

Braided belts around the world

US. Braided belt is searched about 3,600 times a month in the US. A single belt that fastens anywhere is also a sensible travel piece.

UK. Around 590 monthly searches. Black with grey flannel suits the British office; Merlot with brown knitwear suits the weekend.

EU. In Italy the term is cintura intrecciata. Italian woven leather is a familiar quality marker across European markets.

GCC. In warm months, a soft, lightweight belt over linen and lightweight wool trousers adds structure without heat, and the brass hardware sits well with gold jewellery.

Frequently asked questions

What is a braided belt?

A belt made from leather strips woven together, fastened by passing the buckle prong through the weave.

Do braided belts have holes?

Usually not. The ME+EM braided belts have no fixed punched holes.

Can a braided belt be worn with a suit?

Yes, with relaxed tailoring. Black suits grey and black suiting; Merlot suits brown and charcoal.

Where should a braided belt sit?

On the waist with high-rise trousers, on the hip with jeans. The ME+EM belts are designed for both.

What leather are the ME+EM braided belts made from?

Soft Italian Nappa leather, listed as 100% cow leather, hand-woven in Italy.

How do I keep a braided belt in shape?

Store it flat, uncoiled, away from heat, and fasten the prong between strips so the leather is not pierced.

How we measured: leather, construction, hardware, sizes and the trouser details come from the ME+EM product pages; the 30 mm width comes from the house’s own product reference for each belt. Search volumes come from DataForSEO, November 2026. We did not re-measure the belts. Curated by the Coveti Studio. Read our editorial policy.