they are also called apron hoops, I used one in my very first sewing project.
could you make a nice sized square buttonhole, and use real belts? the center button hole is where you would close the belt after sliding it through the waistband.
Or a self sash of the apron fabric meeting at the front buttonhole and tying? or is that reinventing the wheel
this thread will probably get moved to the "looking for/need" thread