Gray Unlined Peccary Gloves

Peccary leather has long been praised as the best leather for gloves due to its extraordinary characteristics: it is durable and tough while also being soft and supple. In fact, peccary leather is so tough that it can be resewn again and again without destroying the leather under normal use conditions. But, peccary leather is also unbelievably soft, and as you wear these gloves, they will only grow softer and more supple with age.

Peccaries, distant cousins of the pig family, thrive in the Americas, but the best peccary skins come from Peru. Fort Belvedere sources our peccary leather from this nation, ensuring that it is harvested according to the ethical and sustainable standards of The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. Peccary leather is easily identified by its characteristic 3-prong pores, and wild peccary is characterized by the scuffs and marks that the animal naturally acquired in life. These unique identifiers should not be viewed as defects but as hallmarks of the leather’s quality and wild origin.

After harvesting, these gloves were tanned by a family-owned company of German craftsmen who have been tanning exceptional leather with over a century’s worth of experience. The leather for these gloves was drum-dyed in order to retain the material’s natural softness, look, and feel, with proprietary additives to make the leather as exceptional as possible.

Peccary leather is naturally water resistant, but we wanted to take the next step and make our gloves even more resistant to dampness, stains, and damage from fluids, whether rain, snow, ice, coffee, or even wine! Therefore, during the tanning process, we have included certain additives that improve the leather’s ability to repel liquids, creating what we like to call HydroPeccary™. Obviously, these gloves are not rubber kitchen gloves and so are not completely waterproof, but thanks to our special HydroPeccary™ treatments and our exceptionally tight stitches, your hands should not get wet during normal wear conditions. And, best of all, this treatment does not compromise the unbelievable softness that characterizes peccary leather.

Because peccary skins are harvested from the wild, they can only be properly handled by master cutters who have the knowledge and skill to maximize yields from skins that naturally have holes and scars that the peccary acquired in life. We are proud to work with Hungarian master cutters with almost 40 years of experience in hand-cutting quality gloves.

In this artisanal process, which is truly a dying art, the skins are first carefully dampened and then powdered so that they are more pliable and easier to stretch. The master cutter then examines the skin and devises a plan of action to cut the skin for the best possible yield.

Because Fort Belvedere sources only the highest-grade peccary leather, the cutters are able to assemble the pieces from a single piece of peccary skin, minimizing the number of seams required. This attentive process gives Fort Belvedere gloves exceptional stretch and an unparalleled fit, all thanks to the skill and ability of our gifted cutters.

Although now associated most often with the colder weather, dress gloves were, historically, worn in all seasons, even when it was warm or hot. Therefore, gentlemen maintained a collection of unlined, highly breathable gloves that they could don in late spring, early fall, or even the summer. These lighter weight gloves are also ideal during mild winters.

To increase the range of finger movement, the best glove makers add triangular segments of leather between the fingers that are called quirks. Quirks are a hallmark of superior craftsmanship and their inclusion is always indicative of exceptional product design. We like to make these quirks contrast-colored for an unexpected pop of color that highlights this unique glove feature.

Dynamic diagonal lines, known as fourchettes, have been a traditional decoration on the backs of men's gloves for centuries. Imparting a strong sense of movement and action, our fourchettes are hand sewn and subtly create visual interest that sets you apart as a connoisseur of glove-making.

To ensure a good seal at the throat and a close fit overall, gloves historically featured a button closure at the wrist. As a cost-saving measure, this functionality has practically disappeared, but at Fort Belvedere, we are proud to reintroduce this important feature. Wrapped in leather, our button closure ensures that the glove sits tightly on the wrist so it lies neatly under your sleeve. For a dash of sprezzatura charm, however, you can leave your gloves nonchalantly unbuttoned for a more rakish appearance.

Sewn by Hungarian artisans who can only be described as glove-making virtuosos, these gloves are truly a work of art. Each pair takes hours to complete, and the clear pride that our craftsmen feel in their work is evident from the attentive detail that they lavish on every step of the sewing process.