W.Lees ( Walsall ) Ltd., although having existed for the most part of the last century, was formed into a new company in March 1973. The company is a family owned business and has been trading successfully for over thirty years. Indeed, the current Managing Director has been associated with the manufacturing and selling of belts and braces for over fifty years. Based in Walsall , the centre of the leather industry, the company has always benefited from sourcing its productive labour locally. However, soon after its inception in 1973, the company ceased manufacturing for the equestrian and pet trade and concentrated on leather belt and brace production. In the early days, business was buoyant serving the wholesale trade within the UK but from the mid seventies, it became clear that the retail trade could be additionally served by trading directly from the manufacturer. W. Lees therefore registered the trading name, 'Outlook belts' and principally targeted the retail sector with this brand name that proved very successful. In the mid eighties, the company found itself augmenting its range following repeated requests to re-commence the manufacturing of men's braces, a product which has enjoyed surprisingly sustained growth ever since.