Every leather strap begins its journey long before it reaches our workshop. It starts with the people who transform a raw hide into a material that will last for decades. Their work often goes unseen, yet it has a greater impact on the final product than almost anything else.
In 2026, we completely redesigned our leather camera strap lineup and set out to find a new leather. We were looking for something thinner, more supple, and just as durable. After months of research and testing leathers from around the world, I found exactly what I was looking for right here in Canada.
Today, every Fab' leather camera strap is handcrafted using full-grain leather from Tannerie des Ruisseaux, a tannery located in Quebec, Canada.
Leather tanning is one of the oldest crafts in the world, but it's also becoming increasingly rare in North America. Over the past several decades, most Canadian tanneries have disappeared due to international competition, rising production costs, and changing consumer trends. Today, only a handful remain.
Founded in 1969, Tannerie des Ruisseaux has spent more than five decades refining its craft while continuing to process leather here in Quebec. In 2025, a new generation of owners took over with a clear mission: preserve this unique expertise and pass it on to future generations.
That commitment immediately resonated with me.
At Fab', we've always believed that craftsmanship deserves to be preserved, not replaced.
The leather from Tannerie des Ruisseaux offered exactly what I had been searching for. It's incredibly supple from day one, comfortable around your neck without requiring a long break-in period, yet strong enough to carry your camera for years of adventures. Compared to our previous generation, it also allowed us to create straps that are lighter, more compact, and even more comfortable, while maintaining the durability Fab' has always been known for.
Like every great full-grain leather, it will gradually develop its own character and patina, telling the story of every trip, every hike, and every photograph you create.
When you purchase a leather camera strap, it's easy to focus on the design, the stitching, or the colour. But behind every piece of leather is an entire chain of skilled craftspeople. The people who carefully select each hide. The technicians who transform it into premium leather. And finally, the artisan who cuts, stitches and finishes each strap by hand.
Choosing locally tanned leather means supporting that entire community of makers.
Since 2016, every Fab' camera strap has been handcrafted one at a time in our Montreal workshop. Today, thanks to our partnership with Tannerie des Ruisseaux, the leather itself is also crafted here in Canada. It's a change we're incredibly proud of.
Because we believe exceptional products begin with exceptional materials.
