Mushroom-born mini wallet
Hitoe® Fold Aria -Mushroom-

Material Description

The latest in sustainability in your pocket
~Combining innovation and tradition for a sustainable future~

By combining KINOLI™ , Japan's first leather alternative material made from mushrooms, with cowhide, which has a long history, we propose new possibilities for a sustainable future.

The exterior is made from KINOLI™, a material made from thinly layered mushroom mycelium, with a fiber structure and properties similar to leather.
The interior is made of vegetable-tanned leather, which has been handed down continuously since the 14th century in the Tuscany region of Italy and is naturally recyclable.

The combination of the innovative KINOLI™ and traditional vegetable tanned leather is a bridge to a sustainable future.

(Click on the " About Mushroom Leather " tab for more information)

Detailed explanation of the material

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Product Description

Towards perfect functional beauty

"Perfection is when you can't cut any more"
These are the words of Saint-Exupery, the author of "The Little Prince."

The Hitoe® structure (registered design) prevents items from being stacked, the metal fitting-free minimalist design and inner hook (patent) allow for smooth operation, and the slipless design prevents cards from falling out (patent pending) .

The mini wallet "Hitoe® Fold Aria" is the ultimate in the Hitoe® Fold series, with minimalist design and ease of use.

Its sophisticated design and exquisite craftsmanship have resulted in a piece of breathtakingly perfect functional beauty.

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"Aria" - Light as air

"Aria" is the Italian word for air.
It can also mean a lyrical solo song in opera or religious music.
Thin, light, and as invisible as air. Yet beautiful and full of originality. That is the "Aria" series.

The challenge of thinness

The thinness is achieved through the Hitoe® structure (registered design) , which does not stack cards and coins.

- Maximum 5 overlapping pieces of leather, no metal parts, 12mm thickest when stored
(When storing 6 cards, 10 bills, and 10 100 yen coins)
Palm-sized 89mm x 91mm
・Light as air , approximately 34g

It can hold up to 15 bills, 20 coins, and 6 cards. Even when fully loaded, it remains slim.

The finest unrivaled tailoring

All parts are made by gluing two thin pieces of leather together to make one. This technique is said to be the ultimate luxury in leather products, and it achieves both strength and thinness.

It takes a wealth of experience and skilled techniques to create a finish that does not float or warp even when folded, and acts as if it were a single piece of leather.

Thin details

The edges are made by overlapping the leather and sewing it on the outside. This is to keep it thin. If you fold the leather inside, you can make it smaller, but the leather will overlap and become thicker.

These details are faithful to the ideal of a thin wallet.

While pursuing thinness, we ensure that the leather is thick enough to retain the natural leather texture, such as tension and firmness.

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Metal fitting-less inner hook

A new idea: use the stored cards as fasteners

We have invented an inner hook (patented) that allows cards to be hung on the outside of the wallet. This is a smart leather hook that is not visible from the outside, keeping the wallet slim.

This idea made it possible to create the Hitoe® Fold Aria's minimalist design without any metal fittings .

Not only does it act as a fastener, but it also prevents cards from falling out when you carry it around.

It's just sandwiched between leather.

It has a flat appearance, simply sandwiched between leather. There are no unnecessary protruding parts such as metal fittings or flaps, so it remains slim and doesn't get caught in your pocket.

The inner hook is designed not to come off when the wallet is turned upside down, so there is no need to worry about dropping coins when opening the wallet upside down.

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Minimalistic and smooth operation

It can be opened and closed easily by bending it into an "U" shape. With this single action, you can smoothly take out and put in all your coins and cards while keeping the wallet in portrait orientation.

The bills are left as is, without folding them.

Simply insert bills without folding them. They are highly visible and easy to take out. They do not get creases or bends when folded in thirds, so they can be easily inserted into vending machines and self-checkouts.

The bill holder is designed to be continuous with the inner hook. The curve acts as a guide, allowing you to insert and remove bills smoothly without getting caught.

Prevents cards from falling out

When closed, the inner hooks catch the cards so they won't fall out. Even when the wallet is open , the slip-less design (patent pending) makes it difficult for cards to fall out. The feeling of sliding the cards is high quality, making it comfortable to take them in and out.

The extra card can be used as a bill holder. It does not interfere with opening and closing the wallet.

Smooth, non-overflowing coin pocket

The coin pocket is shallow and has no fasteners or hooks, so you can quickly take out the coins you need. When storing coins, the lid of the coin pocket acts as a guide for smooth storage.

In addition, coins will not spill out when the wallet is closed, and even when it is open, the coin pocket has a lid to prevent spills.

There is still plenty of room even if you put in 999 yen worth (15 sheets).

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World-renowned minimalist design

19 prestigious design awards from around the world

The Hitoe® Fold series has been highly praised for its functional and minimalist design, and has won 19 major design awards around the world, including the iF Design Award , the Red Dot Design Award, and IDEA, the three biggest design awards in the world, as well as awards in London, New York, Paris, and Milan.

(Click on the " Product Achievements " tab for detailed awards)

Design based on the laws of nature

"Why is the golden ratio 1:1.62 beautiful?"
The golden ratio is the ratio that appears when squares with sides that match the Fibonacci sequence (1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21...) are arranged in a spiral, as shown in the diagram below.

The Fibonacci sequence is hidden everywhere in nature: in the arrangement of sunflower seeds, the spirals in seashells, the shape of typhoons, and spiral galaxies.
This sequence can also be found in masterpieces of art, such as the pyramids, the Parthenon, and Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

The golden ratio is not simply a beautiful ratio; its beauty comes from the Fibonacci sequence behind it.

Therefore, the important thing is not to make each part into the golden ratio.
The proportions from the details to the whole form the Fibonacci sequence , which is deeply connected to the laws of nature and life, resulting in a well-balanced design that resonates with the heart.

Beautiful details

Precise and delicate stitching, polished leather edges that show the overlapping of the leather.
The Hitoe® Fold Aria is designed with beauty in mind, down to the last detail.

Long-lasting and beautiful

Generally, most wallet troubles are caused by metal parts or stitching. However, Hitoe® Fold does not use any metal parts and has only four stitches. In addition, the corners, which are prone to damage, are made of overlapping outer and inner leather to increase durability. The seam allowance is extremely small, and the design is such that it is difficult for the wallet to lose its shape even when it is in a trouser pocket.

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Introduction video

This was featured in the fashion media "Paraph", which introduces only the best items carefully selected by designers. You can really see the texture of the mushrooms.

Watch the video