above: The Old Stud Handmade Studio shop in Norwalk
The celebrity-beloved accessories brand Old Stud Handmade has quietly opened a Studio Shop nearby.
If the name Old Stud Handmade rings a bell, there’s a reason. The brand has been turning heads since 1989, with fans ranging from Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga to Mick Jagger and Anne Hathaway. For years, their coveted handcrafted belts and cuffs were the kind of thing you stumbled upon in an upscale boutique in Aspen or Nashville or, closer to home, at the iconic Westport shop Henry Lehr. Now, the brand has returned to Fairfield County in the most compelling way possible: a working leather studio with a boutique attached, right in Norwalk.
The Studio Shop, which opened April 22 at 5 Silver St., is what the brand calls a “permanent pop-up,” a micro boutique connected directly to the studio where every piece is made by hand. No automated machines. No assembly lines. Just full-grain leather, traditional craft, and artisans who trained under founder Jeff Fuller himself in California before driving a U-Haul full of hides, tools, buckles and gemstones back to Connecticut to set up shop.
The backstory is genuinely good. In 2025, Fuller sold the label to a team of Connecticut-based investors, Westport locals, naturally, who were serious enough about honoring the brand’s heritage to send their team through a hands-on apprenticeship before ever picking up a tool. The result is a studio that feels less like retail and more like an atelier.
Shoppers can browse authentic vintage leather belts and buckles, explore the current ready-to-wear collection: think Western-inspired, rock-’n’-roll and classic chic. You can even collaborate with artisans in real time on custom pieces. Bespoke orders are produced on-site and shipped with complimentary two-day delivery, making it as effortless as it is personal.
The timing, it should be noted, couldn’t be better. Cowboy Core, fueled by Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and the cultural juggernaut that is Yellowstone, has hit a full cultural peak, and Old Stud’s studded, Western-inflected designs are exactly what that moment calls for. The brand also speaks to the punk and rock aesthetic, and its classic leather belts hold their own for anyone who just wants something beautifully made and built to last.
The Studio Shop is open Wednesdays through Fridays, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. On-site parking is available, no appointment necessary, just ring the bell.
Old Stud Handmade Studio Shop | 5 Silver St., Norwalk | oldstudhandmade.com