Leather Strap New Design 2019: Birth of a GenuineStrap Classic

From a strip of raw Italian leather to the finished product you wear at your wedding. They seem like two different things. The process of creating the New Design '19 leather strap is the story that brings them together.

The New Design 2019 leather strap marked a turning point in how GenuineStrap produces its shoulder straps. More precision, more quality controls, more handwork in the final stages. Let’s see how it’s made, step by step, from raw leather to the strap you receive at home.

"A leather shoulder strap isn’t a standardized industrial product. It’s an object where a craftsman’s hands do 80% of the work." GenuineStrap Workshop Manager

The starting point: Italian leather

It all starts with the leather. Our partner tanneries are located in Tuscany, the historic heartland of Italian vegetable-tanned leather. We receive the raw hides in rectangular pieces measuring approximately 200×150 cm.

Each piece is visually inspected: we look for signs of pests, animal scars, and color irregularities. Only 6070% of each piece passes inspection and becomes part of a shoulder strap. The rest goes to lesser products or is discarded.

This quality control of the raw material is the primary reason why a handcrafted Italian leather shoulder strap costs more than an industrial one: we use only the best parts of the hide, not the entire piece.

The 5 stages of New Design leather strap production

1. Cutting the Strips

From the approved hide, we cut strips of varying widths (3.5 cm for single straps, 4 cm for double straps). The cutting is done by hand to avoid wasting material and to control the grain direction in each strip.

2. Sanding the edges

The cut edges are sanded by hand using sandpaper of progressively finer grits. From 80 to 600 grit, in 45 passes. Result: smooth, rounded edges that won’t chafe the photographer’s skin.

3. Waxed cotton stitching

The stitching at stress points is done with waxed cotton thread in a saddlery style. Double stitching at stress points (camera attachments, center buckles), single stitching on aesthetic reinforcements.

4. Dyeing and Finishing

For Vintage models, the leather is hand-dyed after processing with vegetable dyes. For the metallic editions (Silver Gala, Tingala), the finish is spray-applied and cured in a drying chamber.

5. Hardware assembly + final inspection

The stainless steel screws, D-rings, and clasps are assembled by hand and secured with Loctite to prevent accidental loosening. Final quality control: each strap is tested under a 25 kg load before being packaged.

Production time for each phase

Models produced using the New Design process

Workshop visit: how to book a tour

The GenuineStrap workshop is located near Vicenza, a historic hub of Italian leather production. We welcome customers and industry journalists by appointment, typically on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons.

Tour duration: approximately 90 minutes. Includes a visit to the 4 work areas (leather selection, cutting and sanding, dyeing and finishing, hardware assembly), a meeting with the artisans at work, and the opportunity to purchase products at a 15% discount off the online price.

To book a tour: email [email protected] at least 2 weeks in advance, indicating: preferred date, number of people (max 6 per visit), and reason for the visit. We will confirm within 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many watch straps do you produce per week?

About 80120 units, depending on the model. Limited-edition or custom orders take longer per piece.

Can I visit the workshop?

Yes, by appointment. We are happy to show the production process to interested customers or industry journalists. Email us at [email protected].

In summary

The New Design 2019 leather strap represents how we produce: select Italian leather, 85% handcrafted, quality control on every unit.

When you receive a GenuineStrap shoulder strap, you’re getting 1.52 hours of work by true artisans. That’s what sets our product apart from an industrial strap.