About this project
£22,836
593
Hi Kickstarters, thanks for checking out our project! We've spent the last six months designing and refining the Manuka Belt. This design revolutionises the boring common belt, making it smoother and simpler. Instead of a buckle and holes mechanism, the Manuka Belt uses a series of powerful magnets. We reckon we've made the perfect belt for you, and now we need your help to get it produced.
Key features
The Manuka Belt is a magnetic belt made with neodymium rubber composite. We mix the material to our exact specifications and then magnetise it to give it its unique properties. The magnetic design does away with any fastening clasp. Instead the two sides of the belt are held together by the powerful magnetic force. To us, the beauty is in the simplicity.
It will hold your pants up - The magnetic poles are orientated along the belt in a vertical direction, which holds the belt in place when closed and stops it from slipping. The magnets are super strong and will take well over 20 pounds of force before budging - easily strong enough to hold up your pants.
It loosens just like a normal belt - The vertical magnetic poles act like virtual belt notches. The belt loosens in half inch increments, just like a normal belt would, but without any holes, or buckle.
Leather belts with their shiny buckles are just so 1.0.
Our story
The Manuka Belt has been designed and spec’d over the last six months and with the final prototypes complete, we are ready for our first order. We need a minimum order to get our material in bulk, and to build the equipment to mass-magnetise the neodymium rubber.
Tech specs
Belt width: 40mm
Belt depth: 3mm
Belt length: Adjustable based on waist size
Belt weight: 600g
The standard belt length is cut for your waist size - we’ll ask for your exact dimensions following the Kickstarter campaign to make sure you get one that fits properly.
The magnetic forces are easily strong enough to hold your pants up, but will not effect your credit cards, phones, hard-drives kept in your pockets or held in bags at waist height.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in contact directly on kickstarter@manukamagnetics.com. Either Tom or Adam will get straight back to you
Credits
Design: Sara Varela
Music: Anil Kamath
FAQs
Why do I need a magnetic belt?
If you are asking yourself this question, then you probably don’t. But think about how boring standard leather buckle-up belts are. We're different. We think you are too.
Will the belt fit in my belt loops?
The Manuka Belt is 4cm wide, which is slim enough to fit in the vast majority of belt loops. We can make a slimmer belt (down to 3cm) on special request. The closing mechanism of the belt works just as well over the belt loops, as it does when slipped under the loops.
Won’t this ruin my credit cards?
No. The magnets within the belt are easily strong enough to keep your pants up, but wont wipe your credit cards or screw up your phone or hard drive. We've been playing with the materials for months, rubbing them against our phones, hard disks and computers, and have never seen any effect.
Is this magnetic belt really safe?
Yes, completely. Carrying around or wearing magnets is absolutely safe. There are people who claim health benefits from being exposed to permanent magnetic fields, but we don't make any health claims.
How do I pay for shipping?
Don’t worry about shipping. International shipping is included for every reward listed.
Where do I enter my shipping address?
After the campaign ends, you will receive an email requesting your shipping address.
Can I get my belt in a different color?
After the campaign ends, you will receive an email asking which color belt you would like. Belts are available in charcoal or natural wooden finishes. If you would like a completely different color or design go for the Bespoke Manuka Belt and we will make one in the color or design of your choice. If you go for the Bespoke Manuka, we will need a design (11820 x 440 pixels) in one of the standard graphics formats to get the belt made. NEW REWARD: THE MANUKA COLOR PALETTE. You can get the Manuka Belt in any color listed in the palette below. After the campaign we'll send out a survey asking which color you prefer.
What waist size will the belt fit?
The belt can accommodate any size waist. After the campaign ends, you will receive an email requesting your waist size. The belt will be specifically manufactured for your size. All belts for waists above 38” will be manufactured from two neodymium rubber strips.
How much will this belt retail for after Kickstarter?
£50, ($70)
The Manuka Finishes
NEW REWARD: The Manuka Color Palette.
We listen to our backers and they have said "The more colors the merrier", so we've opened up a new reward. The Manuka Color Palette.You can get your belt printed in any color from the palette below. Just pick the reward and we'll send out a survey at the end of the campaign to ask which color you want.
Risks and challenges
We want to make our final product even better than the prototypes in the video. We'll be setting up a bespoke material mix, automated laser cutting and direct UV ink printing to get great quality at high volumes.
Taking a product from prototype to large volumes always involves complexity. Our product needs to be 100% perfect, or it just isn't good enough to ship to you.
THE MAIN RISKS:
Magnetic material - the magnetic mix comes from China (sorry - its the only place that will make the stuff to our specification!). There is a risk that our preferred supplier may be slow to deliver and/or may not deliver the quality we require. If this happens, we have two other back up options, but it may slow us down by a few weeks.
Magnetisation - Once the magnetic polymer composite has been mixed and formed into sheets it is then magnetised. This process is reasonably complex and we have done it for the prototypes but now need to build a rig to do it in volume. We have a solid plan for doing this, but building the rig is expensive and part of the reason we need the funding. Thanks guys!
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Funding period
- (30 days)