There is occasionally a ritual for men and their wallets. Something of coming of age. Often gifted or the time comes when needed to be bought. This vessel of plastic and paper is the EDC for almost all people. A wallet is something typically insignificant and yet will come with a small story of who gave it to them or why they got it. Personally chosen for their dimensions, functions or aesthetics or rather “this is the one my dad gave me”. For myself, I grew up with 2 best friends who were brothers, Austin (the eldest) would give me a dark brown cabela's bifold wallet as a gift for the rite of passage of growing up and getting a debit card. Years later the stitching had come undone and its hide too tattered to continue its purpose. I had figured this was the time to find something to replace it with hopefully more permanence, and also something more personal to me and my values.
The destruction of identity in leather has always irked me. There was always something strange about consumer leather in its unorthodox coloring and clean symmetrical plastic finishes. It was as if the industry for wallets and bags wanted to completely separate its identity from the animal. I had no interest in monograms or even ornate design but rather homage to natural materials and fine workmanship. There I had found Bo, a self-taught designer from The Netherlands who had recently established their brand 0.Hide. I had been following their work closely and was always interested in their design philosophy and general work progression. It reminded me of why I liked japanese high fashion pieces from likes of Julius because of its homage to the natural materials themselves. They didn't shy away from imperfections in the leather but rather incorporated it into their brutalist design ethos. I had liked Julius for the same reasons as their jacket designs had almost obtusely represented its original source by creating almost skin tight leather jackets which appeared weathered and crinkled at parts, some either matte or with a sheen that resembled plasma coming out of skin.
I had personally talked to Bo and went through the production process. I had chosen a specific hide and area intentionally for its characteristic weathering pattern and Bo went through the process of hand stitching the wallet. A bifold zip wallet made of black and red horse culatta adorned with an excella zipper and acid washed metal hardware, it has held up beautifully for the past 2 years. With wonderful crafts work from Bo and the details of the hide leaves me often extremely appreciative of the animal the very hide came from.
I really implore anybody reading this to choose ethically sourced animal goods and better yet help support small creative teams who generate a more humane and ethical product for these markets. Billions of animals have died for these markets to continue producing garbage products that tarnish the likeness of life, the least you could do is not support these massive businesses and buy small scale.
0-HIDE