# $18,000 Belt Kale Miles Belt Has 8oz of Platinum By Bianca | Published 2008-01-17 | Luxury Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/18000-belt-kale-miles References: [kalemiles](http://kalemiles.com) While some may argue this accessory puts money to waste, all I can assure is it will put it to waist. This $18,000 belt will make standing out from the crowd a cinch. The opulent men's accessory is actually the world's most expensive belt. It was created by men's accessory designer [Kale Miles](http://kalemiles.com) whose belts range from $240 to this $18,000 piece. It's not coated in diamonds or precious jewels, so what gives it its value? It's all in the buckle. The clasp is made out of nearly 8 ounces of platinum, and considering today platinum is worth $1,570.59 and ounce, that makes an 8 oz buckle alone worth $12,564.76 US. The belt has a strap made out of some of the finest leather in the world. "Kale Miles uses full grain leather from the oldest bridal tannery in the world on the platinum line; at an average leather weight of nine ounces it's tanned for over one year, which results in a longer lasting leather that gets more beautiful with age," a press release detailed. Of course, the belts are custom made to ensure each piece is unique and fits as an $18,000 belt should. Customers send in their measurements and Kale Miles adds an additional two inches to the regular size; making it smaller is never a problem, and you wouldn't want to have to shaft a piece of luxury like this to the closet just because you indulged a little too much over the holidays. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 55% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/luxury) > [Ultra Luxury](https://www.trendhunter.com/ultraluxury) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Luxury Fashion Accessories:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Developing high-end fashion accessories with unique and expensive materials to create exclusive and luxurious products. - **Custom-made Products:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Offering personalized products and services that cater to the individual needs and preferences of customers, creating a more intimate and exclusive experience. - **Sustainable Leather Production:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implementing sustainable practices in leather production, such as using full grain leather and tanning processes that result in longer-lasting and environmentally friendly products. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Men's Accessories:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring new designs and materials for men's accessories, creating unique and extravagant pieces that appeal to fashion-forward individuals. - **Luxury Goods:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Pushing the boundaries of luxury by incorporating unconventional materials and craftsmanship techniques into high-end products, appealing to discerning customers seeking exclusivity and innovation. - **Leather Goods:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovating leather production processes to enhance the quality, durability, and sustainability of leather goods, aligning with the growing demand for ethically sourced products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Indestructible Sleek Belt Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/indestructible-belt.md) - [Studded Belt-Made Dynamic Jackets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/replica-suit.md) - [Luxe Diamond Watch Cases](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/golden-concept.md) - [Taco-Holding Belt Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/venmo-taco-bellt.md) - [Extravagant New Year's Meals](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/empire-steak-house-nyc.md) - [Dramatically Luxurious Leather Jackets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crocodile-leather-jacket.md) - [Extravagant Whiskey Bottle Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/whiskey-bottle-design.md) - [Diamond-Encrusted Martini Glasses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marrow-martini.md) - [Emergency Tracking Belt Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/arcade-x-recco-stretch-belt.md)