SMATHERS & BRANSON
SMATHERS & BRANSON was founded in 2005 by Peter and Austin, who met as roommates at Bowdoin College in 2004, as a company that provides needle belts.
It all started when my girlfriend at the time gave me a needle belt, and I was intrigued by its uniqueness. Around this time, I realized that there were still no manufacturers specializing in products using needlepoint embroidery (a traditional embroidery technique born in the West), and I developed a passion to deliver products that were more attractive and affordable to as many people as possible. I decided to make a serious move. The biggest challenge was finding and training skilled craftsmen. In order to meet their ideal high-quality standards, they found an embroidery craftsman they met in Vietnam. Needlepoint embroidery is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, as it takes approximately 45 minutes to stitch a 1-inch width, and cannot be mass-produced. However, by maintaining a strong commitment to handmade quality, we have succeeded in creating one-of-a-kind products. We have signed licensing agreements with numerous universities, Major League Baseball teams, National Hockey League teams, and more, and now offer a wide variety of products in addition to belts, including caps, wallets, and key rings. It is a brand that is popular within the industry and has high expectations.