
Social Products Award 2025
This is Japan's first award system that highlights excellent "social products" that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, evaluating both their social and commercial value.




![Light as air [Mottainai] Hitoe® Fold Aria - Foschia - v.2021 | Waxed leather enveloped in mist](http://syrinx.audio/cdn/shop/files/HitoeFoldAria-Foschia_645a0f02-a477-4c4c-86dd-521cdb8afc3b.jpg?v=1761537377&width=2048)
To commemorate the 5th anniversary of its launch in 2025, the Hitoe® Fold series will be updated.
Details of the improvements can be found at the link below.
New Aria & Less – Slimmer and more beautiful
With this update, the current model is being offered at a special price while supplies last.
The release date for the new model is yet to be determined.
"Aria" — Italian for "air" and a beautiful solo vocal piece.
As its name suggests, it is a wallet so light, thin, and beautiful that you'll forget it's there.
“Foschia” means “fog” in Italian. This leather is characterized by its white, misty waxed finish, reminiscent of a morning fog.
As you use it, the wax gradually absorbs into the leather, revealing a clear and elegant sheen.
This patented new concept uses the card itself as a fastener. By not using any metal fittings, we have achieved a thin, flat design. If the card is inserted incorrectly, the wallet will not open, so there is no need to worry about coins spilling out unexpectedly.
The "Hitoe® structure" arranges cards, coins, and bills side by side without overlapping, achieving astonishing thinness without compromising storage capacity. The overlapping layers of leather are limited to a maximum of five.
Even with 10 bills, 15 coins, and 6 cards, the thickness is only 12mm※.
※ Thickest part excluding coin pocket
"Double-faced" tailoring, where two pieces of leather are bonded together to create the smoothness of a single piece of leather. This tailoring, combining durability and elegance, embodies the precise and skilled craftsmanship of artisans.
Cards can be inserted and removed smoothly at all times. Yet, they are less likely to accidentally slip out.
"Perfection is achieved not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Through sophisticated design and exquisite craftsmanship, we have pursued thinness, lightness, and functional beauty.
We incorporated the beautiful harmony of the natural world, as depicted by the Fibonacci sequence, into the wallet's proportions.
Each time you hold it, you'll feel the balanced beauty that resonates with your heart.
Delicate stitching, carefully polished leather edges, and fine lines along the borders.
The aesthetic details imbue this wallet with depth.
The leather is stitched on the outside to minimize overlapping.
These details are faithful to the ideal we strive for.
No metal fittings, no flaps. A simple design where only leather holds everything together. Its minimalism means no snagging, allowing you to carry it smartly anywhere.
No metal fittings are used, and the stitching is placed in positions that resist fraying.
Vulnerable corners are reinforced with overlapping leather, enhancing durability.
Furthermore, the seam allowances are kept to a minimum, and the design resists losing its shape even when placed in a pocket.
Simply bend the wallet into a "V" shape. Bills and cards can be retrieved instantly.
Making payments at the register smooth and smart.
Bills are stored flat. No creases, allowing for smooth use with vending machines and self-checkouts.
Infrequently used cards can be stored in the bill holder section. This does not affect the wallet's opening and closing, and accessibility remains unchanged.
The coin pocket features a simple design without zippers or snaps. The shallow pocket and short flap make it easy to retrieve coins and prevent them from spilling out. It can hold more than 15 coins (999 yen).
Surprisingly, many currencies around the world are larger than Japan’s ¥10,000 bill or ¥500 coin.
This wallet accommodates most of them, making it comfortable to use even when traveling abroad.
So thin you'll forget it's even in your pocket.
Choose a minimalist option that lightens your heart in your daily life.
Foschia, meaning "fog" in Italian, is characterized by its white wax-covered appearance, reminiscent of morning mist. As it is used, the wax permeates the leather, revealing a translucent finish.
Made from bovine shoulder leather sourced from Northern Europe. After vegetable tanning, the surface is lightly buffed (polished) and then coated with white wax.
Natural marks may also be visible.
LWG (Leather Working Group) Environmental Certification Gold Rank.
As the wax gradually permeates, an elegant and natural sheen develops. Oil care is not required unless scratches or dryness are a concern. For more details, please refer to here.
Light colors have a delicate surface and are prone to visible stains and scratches, requiring careful handling.

Misty Chocolate
Misty Navy
Misty Black
※ Due to monitor settings, and differences in dye absorption depending on the condition and part of the raw hide, and the season, there may be slight variations between the displayed color and the actual color.
About Scuff Marks
Where the white wax is rubbed, the natural color of the leather appears, making it look darker and temporarily like fine scratches. As the wax permeates during regular use, the initial marks will gradually fade, and the leather will be covered with a translucent sheen.
During production and packpatina, minor scuffs and pressure marks may occur, resulting in individual variations in how the wax remains initially. Rest assured, the leather itself is not damaged, and these variations will become uniform as patina progresses.
About Wrinkles
Due to the wax, Foschia leather tends to wrinkle easily on the surface when bent sharply. As it is used, these wrinkles will be covered with a sheen, and the texture will gradually settle.
The video below shows an example where the entire leather was intentionally wrinkled and then used for about a month in a back pocket of trousers. The luster increases, and the wrinkle patterns develop a subdued character.
The Hitoe® Fold series has received a total of 20 awards, including the three major global design awards: iF Design Award (Germany), Red Dot Award (Germany), and IDEA (USA), as well as the Chicago Good Design (USA) and German Design Awards (Germany). It has been highly praised for its minimalist design and comfortable usability.

This is Japan's first award system that highlights excellent "social products" that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, evaluating both their social and commercial value.

This international design award, originating in Paris, France, covers a wide range of fields such as architecture, interiors, and products, and evaluates innovation and beauty.

This is one of the world's largest international design competitions held in Italy. It selects products with excellent design and technological innovation.

This is a globally prestigious design award based in Hanover, Germany, presented to products with excellent design quality.

This international design award held in Germany recognizes excellent design from multiple perspectives, including innovation, functionality, and quality.

This international creative award held in London emphasizes originality and expressiveness, recognizing excellent works from around the world.

This international design award held in Los Angeles, USA, showcases innovative and excellent designs to the world.

This international product design award from New York recognizes excellent product design and user experience.

This international award recognizes excellent designs worldwide, evaluating creativity and design perfection.

This international design award honors excellent European product designs, recognizing products that combine functionality and beauty.

This international design award, representing Korea, recognizes excellent designs that combine creativity, practicality, and innovation.

This award showcases products and services with unique Japanese charm and hospitality both domestically and internationally.

The IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) is an international design award organized by the IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America). It is evaluated from multiple perspectives, including innovation, user experience, and contribution to society.

This is a globally prestigious design award based in Hanover, Germany, presented to products with excellent design quality.

This is a historic international design award organized by the Chicago Athenaeum Museum, continuing since 1950, which showcases excellent industrial designs to the world.

This international design award is organized by the German Design Council. It is a prestigious award where only products recognized for excellent design are nominated for an award.

This international design award is organized by the Hong Kong Design Centre. It evaluates excellent designs from an Asian perspective and recognizes the social and commercial value of design.

This award showcases products and services with unique Japanese charm and hospitality both domestically and internationally.

This award showcases products and services with unique Japanese charm and hospitality both domestically and internationally.

This award recognizes particularly outstanding challenges among over 10,000 projects implemented on the crowdfunding service CAMPFIRE.
From June 2021 to February 2025, the Hitoe® Fold series achieved the remarkable feat of monopolizing the top three positions in fundraising for bifold wallets through crowdfunding in Japan for five consecutive years (according to our own research).









To open and close the wallet smoothly, follow these steps:
【To open】Bend the boundary between the coin pocket and card pocket into a "V" shape, and the inner hook will naturally disengage. There is no need to touch the inner hook directly.
【To close】While gently pressing the top, bend it into a "V" shape using the same method, and the inner hook will naturally catch on the cards.
This is because the inner hook is hooked to the outside of the wallet. Please make sure it only hooks to the cards stored inside.

To prevent the card pockets from becoming too loose, they are designed to be a bit snug, and may feel tight at first. Over time, they will gradually adapt to your usage and become easier to remove.
If it feels too tight initially, try inserting and removing one fewer card a few times to break in the leather before regular use.
When the wallet is closed, the inner hook engages with the cards, preventing them from falling out.
Even when open, the cards are unlikely to fall out due to the anti-slip treatment applied.
The Hitoe® Fold Aria and Hitoe® Fold Less, with their slipless design (patent pending), are even more resistant to cards falling out.
Please note that if the wallet is laid horizontally, the anti-slip effect will be reduced as shown in the video.
The wallet has a lid that prevents coins from spilling, so coins will not spill out during normal use. As the leather breaks in, it will become even more stable.
Please note that this wallet has a vertical design, so if you open it horizontally like a typical bi-fold wallet, coins are more likely to spill out.
When putting the wallet in your pocket, storing it so that the coin pocket is vertical will reduce the sound of coins. It also makes it easier for coins to align automatically.
Rest assured, if you turn the wallet inside out, the inner hook will not disengage and the wallet will not open.
You can identify the front side as follows (for right-handed users):
Please choose based on the hand you use to handle money and cards.
Modern magnetic stripes have strong magnetic resistance, so stacking them is not an issue. Also, it does not affect IC chips.
However, older magnetic cards may have weaker magnetism, so to be safe, we recommend storing them with the magnetic stripes facing different directions to prevent them from overlapping.
| Product Name | Hitoe® Fold | Hitoe® Fold Aria | Hitoe® Fold Less |
| Construction |
Single-piece construction Thick leather with no lining |
Double-faced-style construction The ultimate luxury in leather products, joining thin leather pieces |
|
|
Prevents cards from falling out Slipless |
△ | ◯ | |
| Dimensions | W86 × H89 mm | W86 × H91 mm | W86 × H91 mm |
| Weight | 36 g | 30 g | 29 g |
| Thickness (thickest part) |
6 cards 10 100-yen coins 10 banknotes when stored 13 mm |
6 cards 10 100-yen coins 10 banknotes when stored 12 mm |
3 cards 6 100-yen coins 10 banknotes when stored 9 mm |
| Max Capacity |
6 -7 cards 20 coins 15 banknotes |
6 cards 20 coins 15 banknotes |
3 cards 15 coins 15 banknotes |
* Card counts assume non-embossed cards.
* Hitoe® Fold can hold 7 cards once the leather has broken in.
Designer: Hirotaka Sato
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![Light as air [Mottainai] Hitoe® Fold Aria - Foschia - v.2021 | Waxed leather enveloped in mist](http://syrinx.audio/cdn/shop/files/HitoeFoldAria-Foschia_645a0f02-a477-4c4c-86dd-521cdb8afc3b.jpg?v=1761537377&width=2048)