Shakira’s Team Called on Thursday. Opening Night Was Tuesday.
On Stage
Shakira’s team came to Red Monkey with an impossible deadline: source specialty leathers, interpret the tour colorways, and build seven custom guitar straps with matching wireless pack covers before the opening night of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour.
With very little time and limited design input, Red Monkey founder and designer Torry Pendergrass had to trust instinct, experience, and the color direction supplied by Shakira’s team to create stage-ready pieces that felt like part of the show.
Some custom projects arrive with months of planning, detailed design boards, and multiple rounds of approvals.
This was not one of them.
When Shakira’s team reached out to Red Monkey Designs, the timeline was already moving fast. Opening night of the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour was only days away, and the request was as ambitious as it was urgent.
The goal was to create seven custom guitar straps and matching wireless pack covers that would coordinate with Shakira’s stage wardrobe, guitars, and tour colorways — all while working remotely with stylist @nicolasbrustyle.
Shakira's Team Called on Thursday
The project began on Thursday, February 6, when Shakira’s team contacted Red Monkey with a tight production window and a clear need for fast creative problem-solving.
The team supplied photos of tour costumes, guitar finishes, color references, and design ideas. There was no extended design calendar and no time for multiple revisions.
Red Monkey had to interpret the visual direction quickly and build pieces that would feel intentional on stage, match the requested colorways, and function under real touring conditions.
The Design Challenge
Unlike many custom projects, there was not time for extensive design revisions, multiple rounds of prototypes, or lengthy approval cycles.
Working from a limited collection of reference images, costume colorways, guitar finishes, and creative direction supplied by Shakira’s team, Red Monkey founder and designer Torry Pendergrass was tasked with developing the collection under an extremely compressed timeline.
With opening night rapidly approaching, much of the design process relied on experience, instinct, and an understanding of what would translate visually on stage.
Rather than following a detailed set of finished specifications, Torry interpreted the color palettes and visual themes being provided and developed a collection of custom straps designed to feel like a natural extension of the tour’s wardrobe, instruments, and overall stage presentation.
Every piece had to work individually while still feeling connected to the larger visual identity of the production.
Seven Custom Straps for One World Tour
On Friday, February 7, Torry began sourcing specialty leathers and materials that could support the requested tour colorways.
The build began that night.
The final collection included seven unique custom guitar straps, each designed for a different visual moment of the show. The range included metallic finishes, specialty textures, custom red performance pieces, silver accents, gold tones, iridescent materials, and the custom LOBA strap.
Each strap was built with a matching wireless pack cover, allowing the wireless system to blend into the strap rather than interrupt the stage look.
For a major international tour, that detail matters. The wireless pack is functional, but it does not have to visually distract from the wardrobe, the guitar, or the performer.
Matching Wireless Pack Covers
Red Monkey has long built wireless pack holders for touring musicians, but the Shakira project required a more integrated approach.
Each wireless pack cover was created to match its corresponding strap, helping the technology disappear into the overall design.
The result was a cleaner performance system where the guitar strap, wireless pack, wardrobe, and instrument all worked together visually.
Rather than building accessories that simply functioned, Red Monkey built pieces that supported the visual storytelling of the tour.
Working with Stylist Nicolas Bru
The project was developed remotely with Shakira’s stylist, @nicolasbrustyle, who provided color direction, reference imagery, and design guidance for the tour.
Working with the styling team allowed Red Monkey to translate creative direction into functional stage-ready pieces that supported both the performance and the visual identity of the production.
For artists, stylists, and touring teams, that balance is critical. The gear has to work every night, but it also has to belong in the visual world of the show.
From Hollywood to Brazil
With opening night rapidly approaching, there was no room for delays.
The final handoff took place in Hollywood on Sunday night to the last person from the team flying out to Brazil for the tour’s opening night.
Just days after the first call, the straps were on their way to join one of the biggest touring productions in the world.
Opening night followed on February 11.
Built in Los Angeles. Worn Around the World.
For more than 30 years, Red Monkey Designs has built custom leather pieces for musicians, artists, stylists, wardrobe departments, and production teams.
From television appearances and arena tours to film projects and international stages, Red Monkey’s work is built for real performance.
The Shakira project is a reminder that some of the most demanding creative work happens under impossible deadlines.
A call on Thursday. Leather sourced on Friday. The build starting that night. A Hollywood handoff on Sunday. Opening night in Brazil on Tuesday.
Seven custom guitar straps. Seven matching wireless pack covers. One world tour.
More Red Monkey On Stage Stories
Shakira’s custom tour straps join a growing archive of Red Monkey appearances across tours, television, festivals, award shows, and film.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Did Shakira use Red Monkey guitar straps on the Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour?
Yes. Red Monkey Designs created seven custom guitar straps and matching wireless pack covers for Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour.
Who designed Shakira’s custom Red Monkey guitar straps?
The straps were designed and built by Red Monkey founder and designer Torry Pendergrass in collaboration with stylist @nicolasbrustyle and Shakira’s creative team.
How many custom guitar straps did Red Monkey build for Shakira?
Red Monkey built seven custom guitar straps for the tour, each with a matching wireless pack cover.
What is a wireless pack cover?
A wireless pack cover is a custom leather holder designed to integrate a wireless transmitter pack into the guitar strap, creating a cleaner and more cohesive stage appearance.
Where are Red Monkey guitar straps made?
Red Monkey guitar straps are designed and built in Los Angeles, California.