The "Tuck" IC card case is one of Munekawa's top-tier, most popular items.

Boasting a slim profile that stays out of the way in your pocket or bag, it also features three independent pockets, making it one of Munekawa's most popular items.

Many people already enjoy using the Tuck, but if you look closely at its details, you will notice a somewhat curious feature. The stitching on the bottom stops before it reaches the edges, and the corners are cut at an angle.

You might wonder, "Wouldn't it be more durable if it were stitched all the way to the ends?" However, choosing not to put stitching here is a key point that creates the Tuck's comfortable ease of use.

Why not sew to the ends? Why cut the corners? In this article, we will introduce the craftsmanship and ingenuity behind the details of the Tuck.

What is the "Tuck" card case?

First, let's briefly introduce what kind of card case the Tuck is.

Its dimensions are 6.7 cm high x 9.7 cm wide, with a thickness of just about 6 mm. While it is compact enough to fit perfectly in the palm of your hand, its biggest feature is the ability to use its "three independent pockets" for different purposes.

• Main pocket (with snap)
  Can hold about 5 cards stacked, or about 10 business cards. It can also be used as a compact wallet for the cashless era by holding coins or folded banknotes.
  
  
• Front pocket
  Deep enough to completely hide a card. If you keep your transport IC card in here, you can tap it through the ticket gate smoothly as a pass holder.
  
  
• Back pocket
  A shallower pocket where the top of the card peeks out slightly. Recommended for your main everyday card, as you can take it out in one motion by hooking your finger on it.

It’s thin, yet it holds items securely and is easy to take them out. The "bottom structure," unique to the Tuck, is what makes this balance possible.

Detailed usage instructions are also available in our video.

The reason why the bottom stitching stops midway

If you look at the bottom of the Tuck, you can see that the stitching running through the center stops before reaching the edges, and the corners at both ends are cut small and diagonally.

In leatherworking, it is standard practice to sew from end to end to increase durability. However, for the Tuck, we intentionally chose a design that does not sew to the very end.

If you were to sew the bottom tightly to the edges, the two pieces of leather would be held firmly together. This would cause the leather to stretch taut when a thick plastic card is inserted, making the corners of the card catch on the inside and difficult to insert and remove smoothly.

That is why, for the Tuck, we intentionally stop the stitching before both ends and cut the corners diagonally. By dropping the corners, the leather where it is not stitched does not stretch tight and can naturally move outward.

"Gussets" created by the unstitched edges

By intentionally not stitching the ends of the bottom and cutting the corners diagonally, the leather in those areas is not fixed and is free to move.

When you gently push in the sides of the Tuck with your fingers, the unstitched corners of the bottom fold inward softly, creating a plump, three-dimensional space.

Usually, to give a card case capacity, it is common to sew separate leather parts (gussets) to the sides. However, adding parts increases the number of leather overlaps and seams, which inevitably makes the whole thing thicker.

The Tuck does not add separate gusset parts; instead, it uses "the natural suppleness of the leather" to serve that function.

When there are no cards inside, it stays thin and sleek. When you insert cards, the unstitched edges naturally fold according to the thickness, creating just the right amount of three-dimensional space.

Ensuring "storage capacity" necessary for daily insertion and removal without compromising "thinness." The bottom finish, which at first glance might look like incomplete stitching, is a refinement we arrived at to achieve both of these goals.

Not stitching = Reducing points where threads can break

There is actually another reason for this structure of not stitching the bottom corners, besides "creating capacity." It is "reducing the risk of thread breakage."

One of the most common repairs for leather goods is "frayed or worn-out sewing threads." While leather itself is a durable material that can last for years, seams are naturally susceptible to friction during daily use, and the more stitches you have, the more places there are where the thread can get damaged.

Because the Tuck uses the flexibility of the leather to create capacity, there is no need to sew side gussets like in a typical card case. In other words, we have been able to eliminate the "side seams" themselves, which receive the most friction in daily life.

We sew where we need to and intentionally don't sew where it's unnecessary. Reducing extra seams not only helps finish the product to be sleek and thin, but is also directly linked to the durability that allows you to use it with peace of mind for years.

Small refinements that support daily ease of use

When choosing a card case, the visual design or how many cards it can hold might be the deciding factors. However, the seemingly inconspicuous details introduced here also contain important reasons that affect daily comfort.

Whether it's a card case or any other leather good or wallet, please take a look at the shape and tailoring of the details. You might discover the maker's dedication and ingenuity for ease of use.

At our directly managed store in Daikokucho, Osaka, you can actually try putting a few of your own cards in to check how well it fits in your pocket and how the leather feels. We also introduce product details as thoroughly as possible on our online store, so please check it out.

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The explanatory video for the IC card case Tuck by Munekawa representative Munekawa also provides more detailed information. Please take a look.

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https://munekawa.jp/

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