KIKI: Designer Cotton Camera Straps Handcrafted in India
Conventional synthetic camera straps may be either comfortable or attractive, but it can be difficult to find one that’s both. Enter KIKI. Photographer Kishor Krishnamoorthi is producing a line of designer camera straps that are crafted in India from a breathable and soft, yet strong, cotton fabric.
The strap itself is made from traditional Indian handwoven cotton, with vegetable tanned leather at either end to accent the design and increase the strap’s sturdiness. The eco-friendly cotton is light, breathable, and sweat-absorbent, and can be washed by hand.
KIKI is launching with 12 different designs to choose from, with patterns hand block printed with carved wooden blocks in Kolam Studios based in Hyderabad, India.
The philosophy of KIKI is to rethink the way we use traditional Indian fabrics. These stunning materials & designs are all made by skilled artisans and I am truly excited at being able to incorporate them in the wardrobe of photographers worldwide. – Kishor Krishnamoorthi
Kishor provided PetaPixel with a sample strap, and we were impressed by the quality and design. The expandable strap does an excellent job of spreading the weight – paired with a mirrorless camera it is extremely comfortable. We can also see the strap doubling as protection from both sun and cold in harsh environments.
Here are some more photos of the strap:
Here’s a short video introducing KIKI:
The KIKI straps are currently part of a crowdfunding campaign at Indiegogo, where the early bird price is set at $40. After the first 250 pieces sold at that price, the KIKI strap will increase in price to $50. Early bird orders will be shipped by the end of October, with all other orders following by mid-December this year.
Check out the Indiegogo campaign for more detail on contributing to the campaign if you’d like you own KIKI strap.
