Feb 7, 2012

Heavy Leather NYC Guitar Straps- My Interview with Rachael Becker

Rachael Becker

Being that I have been laid up in bed for the last few months, I have spent a lot of time really perusing the Internet looking for new guitar related items. I had been looking around for a cool leather strap to possibly go with my Firebird when I came up Rachael Becker’s Heavy Leather NYC site. I honestly just fell in love with her straps right away :) There is something that is part glam, part motorcycle gang, part old school, real rock about most of her straps…. and I love it. Rachael has also done some straps for a fair share of big names in the industry…..

She does custom leather work as well, but she doesn’t only make guitar straps…. she does camera straps and some clothing items as well. She is a lady after my own heart :) I also figured that her being such a little cutie wouldn’t hurt either :)

Please do enjoy my little interview with Rachael and some pics of some of her amazingly awesome straps….


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEAVY LEATHER NYC GUITAR STRAPS

So, what sets a NYC Leather strap apart from all of the other leather strap makers out there?

Our straps are hand built in our Brooklyn studio using high quality leather and we pay very special attention to detail and craftsmanship.  We design with style and attitude, minus the cheese.  The straps are embellished without being over the top.  NYC style is influenced by high end European fashion+ street grit and that combination is reflected in our aesthetic.

How did you get into doing this?  

I love leather, motorcycles, heavy metal & country music… and there were a ton of guitar players hanging around my apartment while I was unemployed.

Is there a brick and mortar store for Heavy Leather NYC or is it just online?  

I sell online and to retail shops nationwide.  There is no Heavy Leather NYC retail shop at the moment.

Now, it seems that guitar straps aren’t the only thing you do…. what other kind of wonderfully leather items do you make?

I make camera straps and accessories.  I’ve made leather clothing and gun holsters but only upon custom request.

I know you do custom straps as well….. is there one strap that stands out as the craziest custom strap you ever made? Or was there a strap that you were intimidated to make because it was for someone uber famous?

There were a few custom straps I’ve made for one musician that involved a ton of detailing and embroidery using his inspiration.  Very over the top stuff but looked really cool in the end, you can check out photos on the Heavy Leather NYC custom page.  The crazy detailing is hard to describe.  I was intimidated by a ‘faux’ Heavy Leather NYC strap I made a while back.  Don’t like using non-leather materials, unless it’s denim.  I LOVE denim.  I designed a run of denim guitar straps in collaboration with Loren Cronk (Custom denim dude) that came out really killer.

Have you found any difficulty being a woman in the predominately male world of guitar playing?

No, I don’t play guitar so I’m not considered a threat. Luthiers respect my craft and treat me equally, musicians are intrigued and impressed.  The only problems I’ve had in the industry are from other females!

You said it…. I completely know what you mean concerning other ladies, but I digress. I know that there is more of a push, for strap makers in particular, to go vegan….. what are your thoughts on that?

One of my great grandfathers was a butcher, the other a furrier.  My studio looks like a slaughterhouse to any vegan, walls lined with leather, cow skulls, taxidermy… a fur hide rug on the floor.  Although I do eat mostly vegetarian and I believe in treating animals humanely.  I made a ‘faux’ Heavy Leather strap for Geezer Butler who is a vegan, but he’s the exception.

Anything new and exciting happening over at Heavy Leather NYC? 

Huge things happening this year.  I’m working with a few guitar companies to design custom straps sold with signature guitars on limited edition runs.  I’d like to start a line of kid’s straps and donate to music schools, look out for my next Kickstarter project.  I’m expanding into my own line of high end accessories while co-designing and manufacturing runway accessories for the upcoming NYC fashion week.  I’m expanding our camera strap line.  And I’m working to get all Heavy Leather NYC product into retail stores in Japan and overseas.

What are your plans for Heavy Leather NYC five years down the line?  

Expand the strap brand into a lifestyle brand.  The straps aren’t just product, they create an image that people identify themselves with. I live and play in the community I sell to, my customers are my friends & family. I love mixing business with pleasure.  So that means anything and everything  MOTORCYCLE!!!! Seats+clothes!  :D

And more collaborating.  Both in the fashion/music industry and with local businesses here in Brooklyn.  There is a young/ creative /fiery entrepreneurial energy centered in my Brooklyn neighborhood…we own small business with big ideas in a big city… in 5 years I think our success and style will be vastly influential and it’s really exciting!!!

And now for your 5 random questions….

1. What’s the weirdest piece of leather clothing you have worn?

I tried on leather finger (only)gloves (not finger-less).  Totally pointless.  I own some sexy leather but that sort of thing isn’t weird to me.

 

2. Nickelback: Should have been allowed to play the Super Bowl halftime show or fuck them…. they’re God awful?

I’ll be eating chicken wings.

 

3. Top or Bottom?  

The best way to get over one is to get under another.

 

4. Who is sexier….. guitarists, bassists or drummers?  

Who has the longest hair?

 

5. What was your favorite Christmas present this year?  

Let’s just say next year my tree will fit a new motorcycle underneath.

 

Rachael offers a plethora of different strap types and adornments. She has some straps as low as 85 dollars and a few that are upwards of 300 dollars and everything in between. You are also able to choose special sizing for your strap should you want one that allows your guitar to hang down at your ankles. Do be sure to check out her stuff and tell her FBG says, “Hey Girl!”

HEAVY LEATHER NYC GUITAR STRAPS

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