Sansabelt is a brand of men’s trousers introduced in 1959 by Jaymar-Ruby, an Indiana-based clothing company. The trousers have a wide elastic band sewn into the waist, which is intended to make a belt or suspenders unnecessary, hence the name (“sans a belt”).[1]
Jaymar-Ruby, with its Sansabelt brand, was acquired by Hartmarx in 1967.
On 24 January 2009, Hartmarx Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Florida.
On the Good Eats episode "Ear Apparent", when making creamed corn, chef Alton Brown remarks "back before the days when I started seriously eyeing the Sansabelt pants rack, I used to put lots of cream in here. Sometimes a quart for one batch." In episode "Mussel Bound" he says "But I gotta tell ya, I'm already Sansabelt challenged here, (...)" when explaining why he is not going to use butter or cream to thicken a sauce.
In the movie Zoolander, Sansabelt slacks are mentioned in reference to the involvement of male models in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
In the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off, a Jaymar/Sansabelt store can be seen in the background at the end of the parade scene.
In the first episode of Wings, Roy Biggins is accused of having fashion passing him by since he is still wearing Sansabelt pants.