Minimal Wallet  Made from a Timberland Shoe Tongue(2014)

When my old Timberland shoes started wearing out and I was about to throw them away, I suddenly realized that the tongue of the shoe could be turned into a card case — so I decided to make one. It turned out to be surprisingly practical, and I’m planning to use it as a replacement for my wallet for a while, as a way of adapting to a more minimal style for the times ahead.

I’ve always wanted to live with the smallest set of tools possible, but it never seems to go as smoothly as I imagine. As soon as I start thinking about all the “things I might need,” my wallet becomes stuffed and my bag fills up with belongings. That’s why I thought, “If the container is small, maybe I’ll naturally adjust what I carry to fit inside it.” So I began using this small card case instead of a wallet.

Because of that, I now have to clean out unnecessary receipts right away — but so far, I’ve been managing just fine with only this amount of capacity.

What is it that we truly need? I think that’s a question we must keep asking — even of something as ordinary as a wallet.