Meet Rachael Becker | Accessory Designer/ Brand Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachael Becker and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rachael, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
I find success in moments of gratitude and connection. I find it when I appreciate beauty where I currently am, right now. When I am true to myself, and when I can give back. It’s not that when I can’t find it, I value myself as unsuccessful, but simply that I’m caught up. Caught in momentum, caught in desire, or frustration, or whatever is clouding my mind. I’ve reached markers of success, such as seeing my work on celebrities, buying a cool car, or working for myself. But these things don’t last; I’ve watched them come and go, I’ve watched my bank account rise and fall. I love teaching, and I love seeing my assistants inspired to start their own independent craft. In addition to making accessories, I guide yoga and mediation, and success is when I connect with my students. When I connect with my leather customers years later, and I see my work broken in from wear and tear and love, I consider that success.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been working with leather for almost 15 years now. I’m known for making custom guitar straps under the name Heavy Leather NYC. My extended catalog has included camera straps, belts, wallets, motorcycle seats, bags, jackets, and props for film. I use the finest, buttery soft yet durable leathers that lazily pad your shoulder and lighten the load of the guitar. My style is strikingly versatile; I enjoy designing into any aesthetic. I’ve created custom pieces for everyone from Prince to Justin Timberlake to Toots & The Maytals. I was the maker of straps for Lemmy from Motörhead, as well as Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler of Black Sabbath.

I’d never planned on my craft becoming a large business, and it has stayed small. It’s sustained me for years, and I’m proud to make all of the goods locally and in-house. I’ve found it crucial to collaborate and to have many different outlets to sell my products, which became quite challenging during pandemic. With this business, I’ve rolled with it’s expansion and contraction. Right now I’m primarily making custom pieces, which brings me much joy. I appreciate that the business has come full circle, and it is back to the foundation of craft- with 15 years of experience in each piece.

I’ve started fresh with a new business making vegan-friendly jewelry and accessories for people and pets, called DIPHDA. My wish is for this to be a much larger company, built from a foundation of giving back to the community. You can find the goods at DIPHDA.co

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ve lived in Los Angeles for 6.5 years now and still have so much to explore! For first time visitors looking for out of the ordinary, I’d recommend visiting the Museum of Jurassic Technology and The Bhagavad Gita Museum. I love the Hollywood Forever Cemetery and the Huntington Gardens. One of my favorite motorcycle rides (I ride a Harley) is from San Pedro winding along the coast to Venice and up the 1 highway. For a snack, I’d recommend this wonderful pocket of Chinatown: Little Jewel of New Orleans, Phillipes’s for their French dip, and Spring Street Smokehouse for outstanding BBQ. My favorite taco stand is in front of the Target on Eagle Rock Blvd (by the 2 highway entrance), and taco joint is Guisado’s. A must-have!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Susan from Samarasa, Lemmy from Motörhead

Website: Www.heavyleathernyc.com

Instagram: Heavyleathernyc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heavyleatherNYCstraps/

Other: Www.diphda.co

Image Credits
Lyly Weisman, Joey Falsetta,