Strapped Wallets

Strapped Wallets STUDIO KIICHI (Kobe City)

Leather wallets full of love for the local region, with materials and designs all handled locally

Kiichi’s striking wallet has a strap wrapped around the outside. The wallet turns into a box-shape upon unwrapping the strap, making it easy to store change, cards or cash. The wallet can even fit passports or bank passbooks, making it incredibly functional. “We wanted to create a wallet with an adjustable size that could support different amounts of change, but snap-type wallets have limited space. After considering ways to add a Japanese flair to the wallet, we settled on an adjustable strap design,” says owner Kiichiro Katayama.

The soft leather is pleasant to the touch, which only improves with use. Three colors are available: caramel, green, and blue. In addition to wallets, this strap design is now being used to develop new series, such as pen cases, key cases, and more. All of the designs are by Katayama. The anchor brand mark represents the port town of Kobe.

Katayama was born into a family-run shoe business established in 1917. As a child, he watched his father work with leather. After gaining experience as a leather craftsman and as a wholesale purchaser in various industries, Katayama founded his own company in 2010. With a desire to work with local industries from his hometown, kiichi launched as a accessories brand made using leather from Hyogo prefecture.

The leather is sourced from various workshops in Tatsuno and Himeji City. Each leather has various qualities; some are soft and light, making them great for clothing, while others are made to be water resistant. The company is dedicated to perfecting each process of production, from initial sourcing to manufacturing. Staff involved in each process each challenge one another to create the best product. Katayama creates products overflowing with originality, and the wallet reflects the passions of all those who worked on it.

The cutting process is the most difficult, 
requiring a professional touch to give product its appearance

The cutting process is the most difficult,
requiring a professional touch to give product its appearance

The appearance of the leather changes depending on the cut, which must account for the direction, damage and discoloration. Even the same color wallet will have a slightly different color due to the shade of the leather. It's up to the craftsman to decide how to cut and create each wallet. The style and technique of the cut gives each product its own unique look.

The appeal of the leather only increases after longterm use

The appeal of the leather only increases after longterm use

“A wallet is something you are always carrying, so if you don't like the design, it’s not something you can easily keep using,” says Katayama. We created a wallet that would be fashionable for younger people, while appearing classy when used by older people too. We hope that fans of leather will be able to use it regardless of their age. While much of the world is becoming cash-free, in Japan we expect people will continue to embrace the country's coin culture.”

STUDIO KIICHI

Taking intuitive, assertive action, Katayama is paying close attention to how the product is performing. He makes a great leader, helping propel the company forward. By his side is staff member Shimizu.

STUDIO KIICHI

6-7-3, Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
650-0022
Tel. 078-381-6786
https://studiokiichi.com

Strapped Wallets - STUDIO KIICHI (Kobe City)

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