for Leica Q3 and Brompton [One-of-a-kind item]

A Custom Strap for Leica Q3 and Brompton

This custom camera strap was created for a Leica Q3, with the additional request that its colors complement the owner’s Brompton bicycle.

Rather than simply matching a single color, I wanted the strap to feel naturally connected to both objects while still having its own character as a piece of hand-braided kumihimo.

A Gradient from Gray to Black

On the left side of the strap, I used gradient-dyed silk threads that gradually change from light gray to black.

Because the colors shift gently along the length of the braid, the gray does not appear flat or uniform. Instead, it creates a subtle sense of movement and depth.

This gradual transition also helps connect the lighter gray tones with the deeper black used throughout the design

Gold Hidden Within Black

For the black section on the right side, I incorporated gold thread using a traditional Japanese decorative technique known as sunago (砂子).

In this technique, one or two gold threads are mixed into selected bundles of silk thread.

As the strap is braided, the gold does not remain constantly visible. It appears and disappears depending on the angle of the braid and the light.

The result is not a bold metallic effect, but a quieter shimmer that gives the black greater depth and complexity.

Designed to Belong Together

The color palette was developed to harmonize with both the Leica Q3 and the customer’s Brompton.

Gray, black, and gold form the foundation of the design, but the character of the strap comes from the way those colors change within the braid.

The gradient silk creates movement, while the gold hidden among the black threads reveals itself only in certain moments.

For me, this is one of the most interesting parts of a custom order: creating something that belongs naturally with the customer’s belongings, while still expressing the unique qualities of hand-braided kumihimo.

A camera strap designed not simply to match, but to become part of the whole.