The "Encase" envelope-style long wallet is, as its name suggests, a long wallet with a striking design reminiscent of an envelope.

At first glance, it has an incredibly simple look, as if it were just a single piece of leather folded over. However, its details are infused with the thought and idea of "making daily life easier to use" and "making the act of using it graceful."

Rather than adding novel features, we wanted to make the act of closing, storing, and retrieving things natural and smooth by refining the form itself. That thought is the foundation of this wallet.

In this article, we will introduce the rationality of Munekawa's long-selling envelope-style long wallet, Encase, as a leather wallet and the various ingenious details put into it, from the perspective of the maker.

The reason for its simple look: "No metal fittings"

Encase is crafted with an emphasis on being "thin and light to carry." It is approximately 2cm thick and weighs only about 87g.

Despite its simple construction—with three card slots on each side, a gusseted bill compartment, and one multi-pocket—it can hold 6 cards and about 25 to 30 banknotes.

Prioritizing thinness for portability, we have intentionally omitted a coin pocket.

One of the reasons for Encase's thinness and lightness is that "no metal fittings are used."

Using zippers or snap buttons inevitably adds bulk and weight.

Also, not using any metal fittings means that "there are fewer parts that could break." Unlike leather, metal fittings will inevitably deteriorate over time. In fact, many of the repair consultations Munekawa receives are due to problems with metal parts.

In that sense, since Encase does not use metal fittings, it is a product that can be used with peace of mind for a long time without failures originating from snaps or zippers.

The reason why it closes naturally without fasteners

The flap of the Encase is designed to be closed by tucking in the tip of the triangular flap, much like a fukusa (traditional Japanese wrapping cloth). It uses neither buttons nor fasteners; it is secured simply by tucking in the tip.

Some may be anxious, wondering, "Does it really close securely?" I think it is natural to have such questions.

With a tuck-in flap that uses no metal fittings, if the dimensions are even slightly off, the tension of the leather itself will cause it to lift up. On the other hand, if you try to force it to tuck in deeply, daily opening and closing will become cumbersome.

To solve this, Encase features "a very slight inward curve" on the slanted sides of the triangular flap. By adding just a slight angle, the tip becomes slightly more acute, making it easier to slide it all the way in.

Though it is a trivial bit of ingenuity that is not noticeable at a glance, it is an essential feature fundamental to the comfort of Encase, derived after repeating prototyping while changing the shape of the parts many times.

A small touch of consideration for privacy

The card pocket is designed to accommodate a total of 6 cards, with 3 slots on the front and back each. We have incorporated a small touch of ingenuity here as well. By aligning the heights of the front and back card slots, the card placed in the back is naturally hidden by the shadow of the card in the front.

When you open your wallet in public, its contents are surprisingly easy for others to see. Place credit cards with names and card numbers or cards you don't want people to see in the back slots, and frequently used point cards or IC cards in the front.

This might also be a trivial thing. However, just this much can ease the unconscious tension of feeling as if someone is looking at your hands. We often hear from customers who actually use it that "the contents are easy to see, and I can open my wallet with peace of mind even in public."

Graceful movements with just your fingertips

In crafting the Encase, we particularly valued the "act of taking out bills."

By shaping the front of the bill compartment into a gentle arch, it becomes easier to get your thumb onto the bills, creating a structure that allows you to slide bills out one by one with your fingers.

Instead of pulling out a stack of bills every time you pay and counting them one by one, you can extract just the necessary amount with your fingertips and hand them over. We believe that the smoothness of these slight movements leads to the comfort that allows you to use it with affection for many years.

A multi-pocket that utilizes the storage capacity of a long wallet

Behind the card slots, there is one pocket with significant depth. It neatly wraps important paper items—from Shinkansen tickets and wide receipts to passports and bank passbooks—without folding them.

Being able to smartly store such large items, which you sometimes find troublesome to carry or manage, is perhaps one of the advantages of Encase that is only possible because it is a long wallet.

Please also watch the commentary video of Encase by Munekawa representative, Mune-kawa.

Quiet consideration, time to grow

Encase was certified as an "Osaka Seii Brand" in 2014 and received the "Omotenashi Selection" Gold Award in 2017. As a maker, I am very happy that attention was drawn not to flashy new functions that catch the eye, but to the consideration of details that quietly accompany daily movements.

Precisely because of its structure that uses no metal fittings, there are customers who have been using it with affection for nearly 10 years. "It fits so well in my hand that I can't let it go." "I love how the color and luster deepen little by little, becoming an expression unique to me."

Buttero is a leather that increases in transparent luster and grows into a rich texture the more you use it. Every time you repeat casual daily movements, it adapts to the shape of the owner's palm and gestures, growing into an wallet that is one-of-a-kind in the world.

Please pick it up and see for yourself

Today, I introduced the devotion and thoughts put into the details of the Encase envelope-style long wallet.

The slight curve of the flap, the stepped design that aligns the tops of the cards, the arch for sliding out bills. All of these are quiet bits of ingenuity intended to gently remove small daily stresses and gently refine the movements of your hands.

The sensation of the flap tucking in smoothly and the comfort of feeding out bills with your fingertips might be things best conveyed when you actually hold it in your hands.

At our direct store with an attached atelier in Daikokucho, Osaka, you can put your own cards and bills in and check the comfort of using it. For those far away, I hope you will take a good look at the detailed photos in our online store.

For a quiet comfort in your daily hands. I would be happy if Encase becomes a tool that gently accompanies your every day.

---

▶︎Click here for the Munekawa online store
https://munekawa.jp/

▶︎Click here for details on Munekawa direct stores
https://munekawa.jp/pages/store