Make Your Own Vegetable Tanned Leather Belt

Make a vegetable tanned leather belt at Production Mode!

Designer Delphine Pontvieux will lead a small group (7 ppl max) through the process of assembling and embellishing an *undyed vegetable tanned leather belt. 

Delphine will provide casted metal hardware, engraving tools, rivets, coins, and/or suede lace- all you need to design, build, and personalize a one of a kind piece.

Over the course of the evening, Delphine will guide you through the basics of belt making, including how to: 

• punch and cut leather 
• emboss leather
• set rivets and apply other embellishments
• assemble a belt

Plus, there will be the opportunity for consultation and guidance on more advanced techniques for more experienced artists.

Delphine will provide demos and physical examples for you to follow, as well as aesthetic and technical guidance while you create your belt.

This workshop is intended to be fun and relaxing, for absolute beginners and experienced artists alike. Come out for an enjoyable learning a new skill, and to create a belt!

Light refreshments will be provided to enjoy while you create.

*Undyed vegetable-tanned leather develops a distinct and rich patina over time, and will naturally darken over time from the pale beige seen in these photos to warm honey, tan, or deep caramel. This process is driven by exposure to sunlight, oils from skin, and moisture,  enhancing the leather’s character over time and creating a unique sheen with increased suppleness and individual worn textures.

Delphine Pontvieux, founder of NYET Jewelry, was born in Versailles and raised in Beaune, the heart of France’s Burgundy wine country. A true global citizen, she has lived, studied, and worked across France, Australia, Spain, the Netherlands, and the United States before settling in Chicago in 1998.

Her creative journey spans multiple disciplines — from a decade in the U.S. punk rock music industry to acting roles in film and television (LOL, Sinister 2, Empire, Chicago Fire, and Chicago PD), to authoring the award-winning thriller ETA – Estimated Time of Arrest. A multidisciplinary artist, her paintings have been showcased in renowned Chicago galleries such as the Bridgeport Arts Center, Zhou B Arts Center, and the Elmhurst Art Museum.

An adventurer at heart, Pontvieux is drawn to extreme sports and is a certified scuba diving instructor, as well as a cave, wreck and technical diver. In the winter, she enjoys monoskiing and ice climbing. Her motto, “it’s never too late,” reflects both her fearless spirit and her approach to life and art.

Her foray into jewelry design began as a tactile counterbalance to writing and screen work. Originally working with leather, she has since expanded her artistry to include rubber — a material that allows her to create bold, modern, and enduring pieces. In 2024, her innovative vision earned her the Creative Innovation Award from the Fashion Group International during the inaugural Chicago Fashion Week, placing her alongside iconic designers such as Mark Badgley and James Mischka.

Pontvieux continues to dream, create, and push boundaries — designing jewelry that is as daring and dynamic as the woman behind it.

DETAILS:

• Workshop is open to all levels.

• Cost is $125 per attendee.

• The belt you'll be making has a jeans/western-style buckle (as shown in the photos above)

• Belt width is 1.5" 

• Belts will be customized to your size/preferred length during the workshop

• Tickets are final sale/not refundable

ADDRESS:

Production Mode

3860 N. Lincoln Ave.

Chicago, IL 60613

TIME & DATE:

Thursday, March 19
6:00PM - 9:00PM

See you there!

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Production Mode was founded in 2015 as an alternative to the traditional fashion system. We are an independent, locally-owned boutique/atelier. We design and make most of our ready-to-wear collection in-house and also offer made-to-measure and custom design services. In addition to our own collection, we carry a curated selection of independent clothing, accessory, and gift designers,  most based in Chicago.