1974 is a place where texture is honored, scars are kept, and each series is viewed through a lens of time-worn detail and slow living. Nothing here is rushed. No two pieces are ever the same. Every piece begins in my hands...but it’s completed by you. The way you carry it, the relics you tuck inside, the patina of your rituals. These objects aren’t static. They’re collaborators. This is art you live with, not just look at.
about Beth | archivist, artisan and storyteller
I’ve always believed that making accessories was woven into my DNA, but leather found me. I fell in love with its textures, raw edges, and organic shapes. I love that it doesn’t need to be perfect. It can be what it wants to be...flawed, soulful, and full of story.
For 30 years, my creative path has become a beautiful mosaic honoring the many forms of art I've studied and also have been exposed to by others. This has shaped how I see the world and ultimately, a testament to how each piece I design and make is filled with more than just another bag or wallet. I studied black-and-white photography in Orlando, earned a degree in Display & Exhibit Design at the Fashion Institute in NYC, and later a BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia Southern. All of these beautifully layered experiences gave me a solid foundation to be where I am today. All the artists, friends and acquaintences I was surrounded with on that journey are pure gold to me.
And my story keeps evolving. In April 2025, I became a Certified Sommelier after two years of wine study, another layer to this textured life I’m building.
My dream? A physical space where all of this lives together...leather, wine, art, and community. A place where you can feel the work, not just see it. One day, when the time and space is right, that will happen.
All in all, at the end of the day, what I love most is how these functional pieces of art move from my hands to yours, becoming part of your story...gaining beauty, character, and meaning over time. That’s where the magic is... And I’m so grateful you’re bringing 1974 along for the ride.
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studio ethos ~
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One Set of Hands
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Every piece is designed, cut, stitched, and finished by me...never mass produced, never outsourced. Each piece is made by rhythm & ritual.
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Ethically Sourced, Honestly Made
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I work with ethically produced leathers, embracing the scars, textures, and imperfections that give each piece its soul.
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Built to Be Lived With
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I design leather goods to be lived with, not just looked at. They’re built to patina, age, and endure...just like the stories they’ll go on to hold.
"I accept the great adventure of being me."
– Simone de Beauvoir
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Journal
Check out the blogA look at the past, present and future here at 1974. Stories that linger. Educate. Explore.
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1974 Studio Ethos
Read MoreWith a love for the Southwest and an eye for imperfect beauty, I create these small-batch leather goods that are designed to be worn, weathered, and passed down...functional art with story...
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Story & Lesson Highlights with Beth Dryden (2025)
View HereGrateful for another collaboration with Voyage Atlanta/Canvas Rebel. They recently interviewed me for a local highlights section.
1974 Newsletter
slow. quiet. intentional. it bears a cadence that mimics the artisan ways of life at 1974… and it’s always worth opening. You’ll receive different kinds of notes from me...stories, process, rituals, rare finds. They’re not on a schedule, just stitched into the rhythm of the month.