Our designs are inspired by a desire to explore. From the urgent errands you run everyday to the once-in-a-lifetime ride across the continent, our products have been put to the test. Each one has a tale to tell that’s every bit as unique as its owner. Here we start at the beginning, with the story behind the Wingback Card Holder.

~ 4 min read

 

The Wingback Card Holder is our original creation, the product launched with a huge groundswell of crowdfunding support and the wallet that encapsulates the pure design values we stand for: Useful. Minimal. Beautiful.

Modern Approach. Traditional Design.

The Wingback Card Holder is a modern approach to a traditional design. But as with most inventions, it was conceived to solve a problem: we lost our wallet and couldn’t find a suitable replacement.

Most leather wallets are bulky. It’s not their fault. Typically they’re made using several pieces of offcuts and stitched together – Frankenstein-style – into a lumpy finished product that protrudes from your pocket and ruins the sleek cut of your suit.

Our objective was to create a minimalist wallet using a single piece of leather. The first prototype was made from paper and staples, then fashioned out of spare leather from the local cobblers. 42 iterations later, the Wingback Card Holder was born – cut and folded from from one piece of unlined, unblemished leather and folded, pleasingly, into shape for the design conscious individual.

Minimal Design. Minimal Impact.

For the material, we chose full grain leather sourced from a tannery in Tuscany, Italy, where the climate and conditions produce exceedingly high quality hides. All our leather is a by-product of the meat industry and our wallets are tucked into custom-fit packaging made from recycled pulp, ensuring our minimalist design is matched by a minimal impact on the environment.

Once the leather hides arrive at our London workshop they’re rigorously tested. A mark of quality is the smell. It should be rich and natural, like when you walk into an authentic Italian shoe shop. Once singed – another process we use to test a hides quality – the aroma is akin to that of a good steak sizzling in the griddle pan.

 

 

The Personal Touch

A hallmark of all Wingback leather is it should crease but never crack. Over time each one develops its own unique patina and markings, hinting at the journey the wallet has shared with its owner.

This personal touch is echoed in the customisable design of the Card Holder. The customer can choose the leather, the thread colour, the deeply personal or witty inscription on the front and inside fold of the wallet. Or you can create it from scratch with the Card Holder Kit, regularly making alterations to suit your mood or outfit. All you need is a needle and thread.

Digital manufacturing methods using precise laser cutting and etching has made this DIY customisation possible. It’s why Wingback’s beautiful products stand out from the crowd of mass disposable culture. And this, above all else, makes the Wingback Card Holder an instant classic and timeless wallet that will last a generation.

Every Wingback is unique. Every Wingback has its own story to tell.