Since humans could walk, they’ve needed places to put their things. The wallet, for men and women, can be traced back into centuries of history.
Past
Many artifacts have been found in history going back to our first steps including items we used to carry things. As early as 1500’s Europe there have been variations of a leather or animal-made folding device refereed to as what is translated as wallet. Even Shakespeare wrote about the wallet in his play “Troilus and Cressida.”
“Time hath, my lord, a wallet at his back, wherein he puts alms for oblivion, a great-sized monster of ingratitudes.”
Wallets were used in the 1800’s to carry tobacco. The leather packing and tight fold created a safe haven for the tobacco and a pouch easy to tuck away. The wallet was used for many practical uses until it became a fashion accessory.
Who can forget the one and only time the velcro wallet existed around the 1970’s? This style reflected a cheaper version of a necessary tool.
Current
Much like the watch that evolved with practical usage, the wallet doesn’t serve all the purposes it once did. In fact, the purse that holds the wallet now carries those miscellaneous items. While the leather wallet goes back to the Greeks, it will never go out of style. Wallets today are made from other materials such as plastic, washable materials, neon signs with messages, and are multi-patterned. Of course,the name of the designer gives most wallets their value over their actual material.
Some of the more modern examples of wallets can be found at manufactures such as www.ibricraft.com. Today, the leather wallet certainly carries on, though with more design and compartment options. While we are a society that uses less cash and more cards, the wallet reflects our changing society. Many wallets today are designed to reflect our personalities as much as performing the task of carrying our things.
Future
One can only imagine the future of the wallet. As our lives become more digital and on-line, the need for plastic and paper will grow less. But we’ll always have a need for a place to put our things that travel with us including our phones and digital devices.
The wallet has been around as long as humans have needed to carry things. They are as much a part of our history as paper, writing, and language.