Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Beth Dryden. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Beth, appreciate you joining us today. Do you feel you or your work has ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized? If so, tell us the story and how/why it happened and if there are any interesting learnings or insights you took from the experience?
I’m torn between two worlds…creating functional art at a slower, more intentional pace and trying to sell it in a mainstream, e-commerce environment. I wanted to grow away from a certain online artisan marketplace that went astray, to have my own online presence. Yet I’ve found myself getting lost in that shuffle of faster, bigger…cheaper. I know I get looped into the mass-produced leather goods manufacturing/repairs category, instead of the distinctively designed, functional art that 1974 truly is. This makes it harder to find “my people”… the ones who will embrace and resonate with what I’m building here. Ones that don’t always expect a discount because they know the love, quality, and time that goes into each piece and the longevity it will bring. Some could argue that this is my problem and to figure it out. That branding & marketing should take care of it. Yes, they could very well be right… but as a solo creativepreneur on a shoestring budget, it’s a challenge to get everything right. It’s a constant work in progress with many pivots and creative problem solving along the way.
1974 Leather was always meant to be in a brick-and-mortar setting. It’s what I’ve always wanted, but have not –yet– had the means to do so. Leather goods and functional art are tactile…people want to smell, feel, touch, and be embraced by me in the care and creation of their bag or wallet. They want to understand where their bag is made, who is making it, and what the leather looks and feels like. How a bag would feel on their frame or how a wallet feels in their hands. My customers are the most important aspect of this business and I want to give them the best experience with that personal, customer service attention. All I hear at festivals and on Instagram messages is “Do you have a brick-and-mortar?” They want to pop by and browse. They want to be immersed in the 1974 experience. One day soon this will happen. It would definitely aid in being better understood, creating more space for this artisan to breathe and grow at a healthier pace.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I fell into leather work while working as a graphic designer. I wanted to gift my clients with something to put their newly designed business cards in… a card case. I first started making them out of handmade papers… a business card book of sorts. While perusing the local craft store one day, I came across some brightly colored leather scraps. The raw edges, brand marks and textures spoke to me. I went home, used my paper awl to punch holes and then stitched them together with embroidery floss. People loved them and I started selling on Etsy. That was 2011. Fast forward to today after years on Etsy and presenting at festivals–making tons of goods for friends and family–remembering that as a kid I used to make clutches and wallets out of paper and tape…it was time to make this a full time thing. After 10 years of honing in on my craft, I decided to rebrand and level up. 1974 Leather was born and it’s been an amazing, challenging at times, kinda ride. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
My mission is to provide distinctively designed and carefully crafted leather goods with a soul–and a heartbeat. I want customers to feel like they can use these leather goods right off the bat… so my goal is for them to arrive with that lived-in, buttery feel. I currently offer two collections and a selection of smalls (such as bookmarks and mini journals) with other aspirations on my list. My ultimate goal as mentioned above, is to provide an in-person experience where customers can pop in, browse, pick out their design and leather color, smell, feel, and be immersed in the 1974 world.
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1974 Leather goods will be loved for their indie-spirited ways. They are sturdy and strong. Modern, yet vintage infused. Where stories have seeped in, dwelling in each piece of full-grain, Italian leather before it’s even made into the heirloom it will become. Where quality reigns over quantity. Where the distinctively designed and handcrafted rise above a sea of mass-produced, stamped-out patterns. How textures, scars, and markings from the past become the highlight of each piece made today. Never linear. Never perfect. Never stays the same. Each piece will arrive from my hands to my customers, ready to be a trusted companion on their uniquely textured journey.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
I strive to design/create functional artisan goods that will last a lifetime and beyond therefore creating less waste and overconsumption. They tell a story that will only continue to ebb and flow as one carries that Lucas Wallet or that Savannah River Hobo. The patina from handling it a certain way. That marking that happened while on that trip out west exploring and enjoying life. It will forever be embedded in the leather reminding you of that time.
1974 leather goods are meant to be used. While possessing the utmost in quality and care, they arrive from my hands to my customers with a vintage, lived-in feel. Ready for the journey. My ultimate goal as mentioned above, is to have a brick-and-mortar for a more immersive experience. I love to serve others, be a part of community and to see those smiles when they come across a piece they love. Something that will make their daily lives better. Something that will ultimately replace a slew of other pieces that tear and look worn after a few uses. I love creating heirlooms…timeless pieces where less is more and that will only get better with age and use. Life is too short to carry anything other than a 1974.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
Resilience is a word I’m all too familiar with. Perseverance as well. Over the past 13 years, I’ve navigated growing a hobby to a full-time business with my one-of-a-kind leather pieces. I had to research and make my own way/rules while navigating how to sell one-of-a-kind, upcycled, leather goods to a wholesale marketplace when others were unfamiliar with how to approach it. Then trying to find shopkeepers who just “got” this niche way of doing wholesale and took a chance on me and my art. I struggled through a pandemic where most retailers I sell to had to shut down temporarily and some even decided they had to shut down for good.
I’ve lived through many life changes and moves, yet the one constant I could always rely on was my art and passion –– my leather work. I learned to be resilient through election years and slow months when there seemed to be no customer in sight. I had to teach myself QuickBooks and other admin duties that were not my cup of tea but necessary for growth. Next, I rebranded and truly felt I was in my element. However, I then had to seek a new set of customers as my work evolved from previous designs and pricing… changes necessary for creative and financial growth.
It has not been an easy ride, and at the end of the day I sometimes want to quit, but I am grateful when I wake up each day with a brand new perspective and purpose. I continue to strive to find those who resonate with my work and embrace what I’m trying to do. I know they are out there. In the meantime, I’ll just keep on making and pursuing my passion, growing and pivoting when needed. As I mentioned before, this work is engrained in my soul, and the good, the bad, and the mischaracterized… well, it’s all a part of my beautifully textured journey, a journey I’m grateful to be on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://1974leather.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1974leatherco/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1974leatherco
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bdryden/
- Other: Wholesale goods to be found under my other brand name, Ginkgo Leather with a slightly different aesthetic and price point. Meant for elevated artsy, eclectic bohemian type boutiques, museums and gallery.https://faire.com/direct/ginkgoleather
Image Credits
Beth Dryden // 1974 Leather Co