The Evolution of Wallets

Wallets are a staple of our daily lives. They carry the cash, cards, and identification we need every day to make purchases, carry important information, and more. And while the basic design of the wallet has changed relatively little over the centuries, the materials from which it is made have changed significantly just in the past few decades.

Leather Wallets

For centuries, leather was the primary material used in the creation of wallets. Leather is quite durable, yet flexible and easily available. This made it perfect for carrying coins, which was the dominant form of currency until the 18th century. When paper money and documents became available, leather was still the ideal material for making wallets.
Until the 20th century, most leather wallets were handcrafted. Many were personalized and often passed down through the generations thanks to its remarkable durability. Until the turn of the 21st century, leather wallets were still dominant. With familiar designs such as the bifold, trifold, and even used as part of money clips.

However, leather is also a bulky material and people started to look for slimmer wallets that were better suited to today’s world.


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Aluminum Wallets

Led by Ridge and Ekster, aluminum wallets were introduced at the turn of the 21st century. Aluminum offered a lightweight, durable material that featured a much slimmer profile compared to leather. But what really made them stand out was the rigidity of the material. This protected the contents from bending and more importantly, blocked against the use of RFID or radio frequency identification theft. With contactless payments on the rise, aluminum became the perfect material to protect users from this form of theft.
The minimalist design was perfect for holding just a few cards and a little paper cash. It lacked the size and thickness of what leather wallets can accommodate, but it was perfect for those who only needed to carry a few items inside their wallets. However, as aluminum became more prominent, another material started to emerge as a contender.


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Carbon & Other Materials Wallets

Carbon fiber has become one of the hottest materials for creating wallets and for good reason. It is lightweight, quite strong, and has a modern, even futuristic appearance. As prices for carbon fiber have dropped over the years, it moved from the automotive and aerospace industries to everyday use, such as creating wallets.
The carbon fiber material offers a lightweight, yet quite durable and impact-resistant choice. The carbon fiber wallet shares the minimalist designs of aluminum wallets while also preventing theft by RFID. But it is not the only alternative to leather and aluminum available.


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Today, you can find wallets crafted from strong metals such as stainless steel and titanium. Along with environmentally friendly materials such as recycled plastic and even leather made from vegan sources.
The drive to create new types of wallets out of an expanding range of materials continues to grow as the times change. And the needs of people change along with the technology. While leather wallets will continue to be popular, they are no longer the only option for those who want a different material to hold their cards and cash.