<<< • >>>

My studio is currently filled with rays of golden light and the warm scent of leather. Every now and then a lovely breeze flows in, reminding me to breathe. Belle, my American bulldog rescue, moves around to find the perfect patch of sunshine to lie in. Shuffled tunes are playing… Pancho and Lefty drifting on a Magnolia Wind while Facing West sometimes leaves me with Hysteria… Hey Mama and Weird Fishes lift my Broken Wings with Tupelo Honey. So much inspiration for my artistic style is influenced by these moments, those songs, that breeze.

While I wholeheartedly believe making accessories was woven into my DNA and meant to be part of my journey, working specifically with leather just kind of found me. I immediately fell in love with the textures, markings, raw edges, and organic shapes. The way you could just make something without having to line it or worrying about fraying edges. You could make it what it was calling to be, effortlessly. I find beauty in all things that are less than perfect. Multi-layered with depth, soul…scars.

The past 30 years have led me on a colorful journey in art & design. I started my first few years of college in intense study of b&w photography, then went on to earn degrees from the Fashion Institute in NYC & Georgia Southern. I spent several years in visual merchandising (retail & corporate) and then graphic design for 15 years (publishing/corporate/my own studio). In 2018, I decided to follow my heart and passion for making accessories like I did when I was a child and take my leather goods business full time with wholesale and direct to consumer. My business continues to ebb and flow with the times. 13 years of working with leather has been a blast and I can’t wait to continue on. My biggest goal is for you all to experience 1974 in person… a brick-and-mortar is something I hope happens sooner than later.

With all that said, what I love the most, is how these pieces of functional art, go from my hands to yours becoming an extension of you and your own unique journey only acquiring more beauty and character over time. There is magic there and I’m grateful you’re taking 1974 along for the ride.

Thanks for being here,

<<< Beth Dryden >>>