What Is Horsebit Leather?

The world of designer fashion and accessories is a difficult one to navigate for those unfamiliar with the jargon. Phrases describing different cuts, styles, colors, decorations and accessories sound alien to the untrained ear. Designers often take inspiration from a variety of sources in their designs, like the equestrian world, which brought horsebit leather into the designer vocabulary in the 1950s. The horsebit decoration has been a staple for designers ever since.

Horsebits have become so common a design feature that "horsebit leather" is its own descriptor for goods from a variety of designers. They incorporate miniature versions of bits attached to leather bridles used by horseback riders to control their horses. Miniature, decorative horsebits serve as a classic, timeless addition to a variety of leather accessories.

Horsebits were first used as decorative buckles on designer handbags, inspired by equestrian bridles. They are used on the front of bags as a key design feature, as an actual closure, as a means of attaching the strap to a shoulder bag, or simply as a metal decoration somewhere on the item. These metal decorations have since appeared on bags of all sizes, as well as shoes, belts and other leather accessories, offering them a timeless feel.

Decorative horsebits have been adapted by designers for garments and accessories of all sizes. Designer loafers featuring horsebit buckles became a fashion staple in Hollywood in the 1950s and 60s. Today, horsebit leather handbags feature horsebit buckles, either functional or decorative, stamped with the designer's name as an identifier. Horsebits are maximized as defining features, or minimized as subtle adornments to make each design unique.

Horsebit decorations do not change much over time, so keeping them timeless and modern at once is a difficult task for designers. Designers who incorporate horsebits into their creations blend them with modern and trendy fabrics and colors to create interesting, contemporary pieces with a classic touch. Horsebits are now commonly found on accessories made from materials other than leather, but the horsebit leather bag is still a staple of many designers' collections.

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Bit (horse) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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