Leather Wallets

We make our leather wallets in our small workshop in Älmhult, Sweden.  

These wallets will develop a unique character and patina that reflects your journey through life. With each scratch, scuff, and mark, your belt will tell a story and become a cherished companion that stands the test of time.

We recommend cleaning your leather wallet with lukewarm water in most cases. If your leather wallet is really soiled, you can use a leather-safe cleanser. If you don’t have a leather cleaner, we recommend some baby soap or hair shampoo. These usually have very little or very mild chemicals.

It is very important after cleaning the wallet to let it dry completely. And never dry it with a hair dryer or dry it next to a radiator. Let the leather wallet dry at room temperature away from any heat source. 

Once the leather is completely dry, then apply a light coat of neatsfoot oil and let it dry again. Follow that with some leather conditioner.

It’s a good idea to condition your leather wallet every six months or sooner if you feel the leather is getting a dry and developing micro cracks.

For the most part, we encourage our customers to leave their wallets as-is. The best part about having full-grain leather is the beautiful patina that develops.

Even though a leather wallet may survive a spin in the washing machine, it can still lose vital oils and tallows. Consider your wallet as your skin. If you wash your hands for a prolonged time, they will dry out unless you moisturize them. The same applies to your wallet if you leave it in your jeans. Allow it to dry first, then apply some leather conditioner. The oils will nourish and restore it to its original condition within a few days of use.

The answer to this question is unfortunately not so straightforward, and can vary depending on the situation. At Nordic EDC, we offer high-quality leather wallets that can be broken in over time. With regular use, the leather will naturally relax and develop a beautiful patina. Our wallets have tight pockets because leather only stretches in one direction. If you find the leather too thick, don’t worry – with time and use, it will become more pliable and comfortable.

A leather wallet will stretch. In the beginning, the card pockets might feel a little too tight. However, in just a couple of weeks, they will form to the shape of the cards that you put in the pocket. 

If you are having trouble getting your cards in and out of your wallet and you would like to speed up the break-in process, you can add extra cards for a short period of time to stretch the pockets. 

Choosing the perfect leather wallet depends on various factors like the amount of stuff you carry and your fashion style. While durability and style are important for both genders, choosing the best wallet for men may look different than choosing the best wallet for women. Women might prefer longer wallets that can be carried in purses while men might opt for slim front-pocket wallets or traditional bifold ones which goes in their pant pockets.

Check out this blog article we wrote about how to choose the perfect wallet. 

Not all leather wallets are built the same. If you buy genuine leather wallets, you are actually buying the cheapest quality bonded leather. Those are probably not going to last very long. You should always look for full grain vegetable tanned leather. This is the best leather that you can buy and lasts a lifetime if take good care of. Of course, this is the type of leather we at Nordic EDC use. 

Another thing that makes our wallets last decades if not more is that we hand stitch our wallets with Ritza Tiger thread using saddle stitch technique. With this technique, even if one of the stitch breaks, the thread doesn’t unravel like in a machine stitched wallet.  

A nicely handcrafted leather wallet from a good maker like ourselves, usually is made with 1,2 – 1,4mm full grain vegetable tanned leather. These wallets are also handstitched using the traditional saddle stitching technique. 

If taken care of properly by regularly conditioning the leather, our wallets can last decades if not more! 

Remember buy cheap buy twice! Buying a cheap  inferior product is a false economy since it will need replacement. High quality items cost more upfront but last a very very long timed is much cheaper in the long run. 

Storing a leather wallet is simple. Just put it in a cloth bag or wrap it in a thin cloth and store it in a cool and dry place away from any heat source or direct sunlight. Heat and sunlight is what makes the leather dry and brittle. Storing it in a thin cloth keeps the dust away and lets the leather breathe.