In 2004, Brig of SlideBelts Inc. received a generous gift from one of his students while teaching abroad in Moldova: a ratchet belt. Instead of using worn out holes and an unreliable prong, this leather belt used something different: a tab on the buckle that ratcheted into teeth-like ridges sewn to the back of the leather strap. Fascinated with the utility of the belt, Brig thought it could become a huge hit with some stylistic changes. He collaborated to improve and refine the buckle for the fashion world. As it turned out, the ratcheting buckle was already public domain, and a SlideBelts patent would not be possible until 9 years later when he improved and redesigned the buckle into a dual-ratchet lever.
