We make things that outlast the moment.
Clever Supply Co. was built on a simple belief: the right carry gear should disappear into your shooting — so all that's left is the work.
It started in a garage.
The goal was specific: find a camera strap that didn't get in the way. Something that kept the profile small, felt good in the hand, and would actually improve with age — the way a good piece of leather does.
That strap didn't exist. So we made it.
What began as a single design cut from full-grain leather with brass rivets and split rings grew into thousands of hand-built straps shipped to photographers across the world. Street shooters. Documentary photographers. Film photographers carrying Leicas. Hybrid shooters with Peak Design systems.
The thread through all of it: gear that earns its place in your bag, then earns a patina from the miles you put on it.
The strap softens with use and gradually develops a rich patina. Over time, it becomes uniquely yours — shaped by the miles you walk and the moments you capture.Todd Balsley, Founder
From straps to bags. Always by hand.
After building thousands of straps, a natural question emerged: what would the perfect camera bag look like if it started from the same principles?
The Camera Sling came out of that question. Compact enough to keep city carry fast. Organized enough for everything you actually need. Built to pair with the straps photographers already loved.
The Kickstarter launch confirmed what the photography community already knew was missing. The support was overwhelming. We've been building bags and straps for serious photographers ever since.
Every stitch. Every rivet. By hand.
Our leather straps are cut, punched, riveted, and finished in Kentucky. Not outsourced. Not assembled from pre-cut kits. Made by hand, start to finish.
We use 5-6oz full-grain leather — the top layer of the hide, with the natural grain intact. Tougher, more beautiful, and ages in ways corrected or bonded leather never will.
Built for the carry. Made for the shoot.
Every strap is made to order. Ships in one week.
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