Whether you’re juggling dexterity challenges or balance issues, there are times when it’s vital to keep your hands free.
A Brisbane mother of three, Friederike Kuehn, has found a way to keep your phone safe and secure – and reachable – while still looking fashionable.
She’s the creator of RIKKA, a brand featuring phone cases, crossbody phone straps and wrist straps, that look good and are made to last.
She was inspired after a trip to Europe to visit family, where she said people everywhere used phone straps to keep their devices handy. She tried one herself and quickly decided it was the best travel accessory she had ever used.
Australian solution
Surprised phone straps hadn’t been widely adopted in Australia yet, and disappointed by the quality of some options on the market, Kuehn set about designing her own.
After more than a year of research, designing and sampling, the RIKKA crossbody strap range was launched.
Coming in a large range of colours, styles and materials, RIKKA prides itself on being fashion-forward as well as practical, especially for the elderly and disability community.
“These days our whole lives are on our phones. Whether it’s photos, emails, texting, social media, your driver’s license, credit cards, we use our phones for everything,” Kuehn said.
“A phone strap makes life so much easier, but I wanted to design a range that people would actually want to wear as a fashion accessory. I also wanted to create a strap with sturdy hardware and high-quality material.”
RIKKA’s impact on the disability community
RIKKA now has a dedicated following among the senior and disabled community.
“I didn’t think when I first started this, how much of an impact this product would have for those who struggle with mobility, memory or muscle strength,” Kuehn said.
“Now people can have their hands free to hold onto railings or walkers and don’t have to worry about losing their phone or cracked screens, which are expensive to fix.”
She identified a gap in the market for a phone strap that was compatible with all smartphones and was the first Australian business to create a Universal Phone Strap.
This option features a ‘patch’ with a small loop that slides into any phone case. The strap then hooks onto the loop, meaning you can be hands-free in seconds.
The innovative design was nominated for the 2024 SHE-Com Awards, and the RIKKA Strap-N-Go (case, strap and adaptor set) was named as a finalist.
Since launching in May 2023, RIKKA has seen revenue growth of 76 per cent year on year.
Kuehn plans to expand the RIKKA range of phone accessories in 2025.
For more information, visit RIKKA’s website.