Menno Man | La Crete, AB
A man of many talents, Curtis Rempel of La Crete, is a camp director with a creative mind. He’s also the craftsman behind what he proudly calls the “world’s toughest belts.”
A former member of the famous country band, High Valley, Rempel sought a portable hobby to complement his love for woodworking while touring. This led him to leatherwork—a pursuit that combines design, craftsmanship and durability.
“Leather crafting became my backstage therapy, a way to create something with my hands while on the road,” said Rempel.
What began as a hobby evolved into Menno Man, a brand known for producing high-quality, handcrafted leather belts, and a source of pride for Rempel and his Mennonite heritage.
“I started out by making belts for other musicians, stage crews and my band mates about five years ago,” said Rempel. “It kept growing, and now I’ve made hundreds of belts and have completely fallen in love with it.”
Rempel starts his process by sourcing the highest quality leather from Wickett & Craig, a tannery in Pennsylvania known for its time-honored, natural tanning methods. He orders a side of leather at a time, cuts it into one-and-a-half inch strips, shapes the edges, burnishes them for smoothness and adds a solid brass buckle.
“I take a practical approach and really focus on quality and minimalism and not so much on decorative aspects like tooling,” said Rempel. “Less is more for me. The point is for them to look good and last forever.”
For a personal touch, he offers customizations like names, quotes or monograms, adding sentimental value that can be passed down through generations.
The appeal of working with leather for Rempel is about the authenticity of the materials and the sensory experience of the process.
“I love that these leathers are completely natural with no chemicals involved. There’s just a long, traditional tanning process of weeks soaking and curing,” said Rempel. “The smell of leather, how it feels and the sound it makes when its cut—all of it draws me in.”
In the beginning, Rempel found working with leather was harder than he anticipated. Buying lower quality leather initially created difficulties and flaws.
“There was definitely a learning curve, but I was committed,” said Rempel. “I did a lot of research, took risks and tried different materials. It was necessary. It’s how you learn. I also had to do that to find the perfect leather, which I now have.”
Another challenge for Rempel was the need to be more than a craftsman. He also needed to be a marketer, which he has found to be a lot of work.
“I enjoy marketing, but it’s difficult to be consistent and market the same product year after year,” said Rempel. “It’s not my full-time job anymore, so I don’t feel the pressure to get those sales over and over again.”
All of Rempel’s belts start at $165 and come in three colours: tan, brown and black. Customers can choose their desired length and order directly online making it quick and easy to purchase a thoughtful and practical gift for this holiday season.
“Personalizing a belt costs an extra $25, but I always recommend it because it immediately adds sentimental value to the belt,” said Rempel. “They make the perfect Christmas present because you know it’s something that will be cherished for a long time.”
When asked what his vision was for his future in belt making, Rempel offered a thoughtful and insightful answer about the belts he meticulously crafts.
“My goal is to have as many fathers and sons as possible wearing Menno Man belts, so they can be passed down through the generations and become cherished heirlooms and a lasting legacy of their craftsmanship.”
To succeed in a creative venture, Rempel believes it is essential to learn as much as you can by utilizing the resources available to master your skills.
“Almost everything I know, I learned online,” said Rempel. “It’s free, and it helped get me to where I am today.”
Rempel also encourages entrepreneurs to seek assistance with marketing when they can.
“If you want to turn your passion into a profession, you’ll need to become a marketing professional,” said Rempel. “Otherwise, it can remain a fulfilling hobby, which isn’t always a bad thing either.”
Browse and purchase Rempel’s belts exclusively online at www.mennoman.ca
Move Up readers get a free custom engraving with a Menno Man purchase ($25 value).
Simply add it to your order before checkout & use code: moveup
By Dani Wearden | Photography Trent Schlamp
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