One Useful Thing is a weekly newsletter of well-designed and helpful things.
A paper wallet? Yes, and it’s amazing. Hear me out.
Now that my kids are grown, I’m recovering from having Dad Pockets. I no longer carry tissues, half-eaten snacks, and that special rock a kid had to take home.
The trick is to be selective about what you do carry. Add a phone to the mix and you’re in danger of ending up right back where you started: Dad Pockets.
The Kamino Card Sleeve solved that problem for me.
Kan Yamamoto designs and hand makes Kamino wallets in his small workshop in Kochi, Japan. Kan’s designs reflect his appreciation of modern materials and love of Origami.
"Kamino" means "made of paper" in Japanese. Kamino wallets are made of a latex-impregnated paper fabric called Córdoba.
Córdoba paper is like the material used for labels on jeans. It is tear-resistant and feels almost like leather. It is washable and dries quickly while maintaining its shape, but it is not water-proof.
Kamino offers Card Sleeves that hold three, five, seven or twelve cards, plus cash and a few coins.
I have the five card sleeve. I’ve had it only one month but it shows no signs of wear and, even fully loaded, takes up very little space in my front pocket. It’s the perfect balance of minimal and useful for my needs.
Kamino offers a variety of wallet designs, including a slim bifold, wrap wallet, cash sleeve and a coin wallet.
You can even try making your own Origami wallet with Kamino’s free DIY templates.
Remarkably, the Kamino Card Sleeve is only $19.90 US with free standard shipping from Japan.
No more Dad Pockets, indeed.
Keith Monaghan writes the One Useful Thing newsletter and is a researcher who works with creative teams on projects for companies like Nike, The CW Network and Upworthy. Just reply to this email to get in touch or follow him on Twitter @keithmonaghan
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