Wallet
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A wallet or billfold is a small (usually pocket-sized) flat case used to carry personal items such as cash, credit cards and driver's licenses for frequent quick access. Wallets are generally made of leather or fabrics such as PVC.
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[edit] History
The word "wallet" has been in use since the 14th century to mean a bag or a knapsack for carrying articles, and the word possibly derives from Proto-Germanic.[1] The ancient Greek word kibisis, used to describe the sack carried by the god Hermes and the sack in which the mythical hero Perseus carried the decapitated head of the monster Medusa, has been typically translated as "wallet".[2][3] Usage of the term "wallet" in its modern meaning of "billfold" in American English dates to 1834.[1]
Billfolds were developed almost immediately after the introduction of paper currency to the West in the 1600s. (The first paper currency was introduced in the New World by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1690.) Prior to the introduction of paper currency, purses (usually simple drawstring leather pouches) were used for storing coins. Early wallets were made primarily of cow or horse leather and included a small pouch for printed calling cards.
The modern bi-fold wallet with multiple "card slots" achieved its uniform standard size in the early 1950s with the introduction of the first credit cards in 1951. Wallet design remained mostly unchanged throughout most of the late 20th century, while today wallet design has exploded into myriad shapes, designs, and colours from dozens of designers.[citation needed]
Some innovations include: the introduction of the velcro wallet in the 1970s.
[edit] Varieties
The key constraints on the design of a wallet are the need to hold bills and credit cards (if it does not contain them, it's more often classed as a type of money clip), and fitting into a pocket (or handbag).
- Breast wallet (or secretary wallet): a wallet where the bills are not folded; intended for men's breast pocket (in a jacket, not a shirt), or for a handbag. These are elegant and flat, but too large for storage in a pant pocket.
- Bi-fold: bills are folded over once; "standard" wallet; credit cards may be stored horizontally or vertically
- Tri-fold: this may be a bi-fold wallet with an extra fold, or the bills may be folded over twice (and credit cards are generally stored vertically)
- Front Pocket Wallet or Money Clip: a small money piece with no currency compartment and very few pockets for cards. Usually bills are folded and held to the wallet with a metal clip. This wallet is designed to fit in a front pants pocket, and is very popular with younger men.
Some wallets, particularly in Europe (where larger denominated coins are more prevalent) contain a coin purse compartment.
Some wallets have built-in clasps or bands to keep them closed.
As European bills (pounds, euros) are larger than American bills in one dimension, they don't fit in some smaller American wallets.
Beyond basic design, a wide variety of materials and designs is used.
[edit] Features
A wallet generally has one or more:
- Currency pockets
- Credit card pockets, which may be oriented vertically or horizontally, and may be slide pockets
- ID pockets, which have a see-through window
- Photo pockets, which are designed to hold a collection of photographs. At least one manufacturer offers a built in digital picture viewer [1].
- Coin pockets
- Key holders
- Money clips
- Chains, to secure the wallet from loss or theft
[edit] Pickpockets
Pickpockets frequently target wallets, so some wallet owners attach them to their belts with small chains or place the wallet in an inside pocket which cannot be easily reached without the owner noticing. Another anti-pickpocket strategy is to replace the traditional leather wallet with one of the newer design thin wallets, effectively concealing the wallets location from would be pickpockets. Some travellers replace wallets with money belts, to further conceal and protect their belongings.
[edit] Unusual materials
Most wallets sold in stores are made of leather or fabrics, but some individuals create their own wallets from other materials that one can easily find around the house, such as duct tape and playing cards.
Another trend popular among graduate students and indigents is to use Crown Royal or other assorted bags as wallets. The tie strings may be wrapped around the bag to secure the wallet's contents. It is believed that these wallets are an homage to Ernest Hemingway, who would use various small bags in his travels[citation needed]. This approach has notable advantages and disadvantages. For example, many people fail to recognize that the bags are actually wallets and may contain important documents or items of monetary value. The stigmatism, however, of such bags often cause people to mistake them as dime bags or other containers which hold drug paraphernalia.
[edit] Designers of wallets
Wallets are seen as a key fashion accessory and nowadays most major designer labels including Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Armani offer seasonal collections and also perennial collections (usually black and brown leather wallets). Within the UK, the most popular wallets are made by Mulberry, Radley, Paul Smith, Ted Baker, and Billabong. Within the US popular designers include Guess, Burberry, Perry Ellis, Kenneth Cole and Fossil.
In addition there are a number of specialist designers that have collections of unique wallets include Ducti, who create wallets made from duct tape, J Fold, that offer a large range of colourful leather wallets, and Stewart-Stand, a New York design house that design wallets made from woven stainless steel.
Today, almost every major retailer has a wide selection of men's wallets available. Major retailers (such as the UK's John Lewis Partnership or Neiman Marcus in USA) usually offer branded wallets and own branded wallets. These own branded wallets often have same function, quality, and design of fashion brand wallets, but without the high price ticket. There are also stores that specialise in offering wallets such as KJ Beckett and Hudsons Leather Shop.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Online Etymology Dictionary entry for "wallet". Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ CTCWeb Glossary: K. Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
- ^ Appolodorus Library and Epitome (ed. Sir James George Frazer). Retrieved on 2007-09-06.
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