Did you know that the U.S. market for leather wallets and purses was $10.3 billion in 2020?
Despite the digital wallet trend, having a physical wallet is still vital for everyday life. But how do you pick one that is worth your money?
Keep reading for three things to consider if you want to buy only high quality wallets.
1. Material
Wallets can be made of plastic, metal, fabric, Tyvek, even paper and elastic. But the most classic, attractive, and durable material for a wallet is leather.
If you want a high quality wallet, you should understand the three main types of wallet leather. These are pleather, split-grain, and full-grain.
“Pleather” does not really count as leather. It looks like it, but it is actually plastic, bonded to fabric. This wears out in no time.
Split-grain leather is made of the cheapest layer of the hide. It is so delicate, it must be coated in a layer of plastic or polyurethane. This splits and cracks with use.
Full-grain leather comes from the topmost layer of a hide. It is thick, smooth, and durable. This is what you want for a fine wallet because as it wears, it acquires a patina.
A patina is the natural wear on the leather, which makes it shiny, dark in some places, and light in others. This is desirable, as it adds character and value to your leather.
So while pleather and split-grain wear out and lose value as you use them, full-grain leather actually gets better with age and use.
2. Size and Design
Empty out your current wallet and evaluate how big your next wallet needs to be. You’ll probably be carrying cash, ID cards, and credit cards. You may also choose to carry “extras,” such as business cards and photos.
Once you determine what you like to carry, you can pick the design. The most common wallet designs are:
- The bifold wallet: prioritizes bills, but has pockets for cards
- The tri-fold wallet: great for cards, but also has a cash slot
- The cardholder: if you don’t carry any cash
- The long wallet: if you carry a checkbook and a lot of cash
What style should you choose? Feel free to pick a fun style that matches your adventurous spirit or your love of technology. Your wallet should reflect your personality: rugged, sleek, western, fancy, or classic.
3. Sustainability
You should feel good about owning your wallet. There are tons of cheap leather wallets online that were made overseas, in unfair conditions that are cruel to the workers, the animals, and the environment.
With all the information available to us today, there’s no reason to pick an unsustainably sourced wallet.
Find a seller that is transparent in their production and supply chain. One example is Holdfast Gear, which ethically sources its materials and creates sustainable jobs in Oklahoma, where its wallets are handcrafted.
The craftsmen of high quality leather wallets are all proud of their work, and will therefore be very upfront about their process.
Only Buy High Quality Wallets
Buying a fine wallet is an investment. If you spend wisely on only high quality wallets, you will be rewarded with years of enjoyment and value. Price does not always indicate quality, so use these three tips to make informed buying choices.
If you found this information helpful, feel free to read more lifestyle and fashion articles on our blog.
