Style -- 10 days ago
Secrid offers a crash course in Dutch ingenuity
For the past thirty years, Secrid has been quietly revolutionising the traditional wallet market with its minimalist designs that aren’t flashy or faddy, but rather genuinely innovative, beautifully made and – whisper it – stylish
You can tell a lot about a man from his wallet. Is it a battered billfold bursting at the seams with receipts from 2017? Is it in fact non-existent, his cards and cash instead stuffed into pockets and often misplaced – particularly when it comes to buying the next round? Or, perhaps it doesn’t look much like a wallet at all, but rather a sleek, slim case that slips neatly and discreetly into a blazer pocket. If it’s the latter, chances are it’s a Secrid.
Secrid’s story began in 1995 when Dutch couple René van Geer and Marianne van Sasse van Ysselt – an industrial designer and a fashion designer respectively – began growing frustrated with the wallets that were available at the time. They were clunky, overstuffed and perfectly unsuited to a world increasingly reliant on plastic rather than paper. So, they set about creating something new: a slim case that could not only carry cards but safeguard them, too. The result was the Bodycard: a plastic card holder that protected bank cards from bending and breaking.
Soon, with the advent of smartphones, almost all essential documents had shrunk to pocket size. People were carrying less, but what they carried was more important than ever. Drawing inspiration from the design of the newly-launched iPhone, the Secrid team announced the Cardprotector in 2009. The pocket-sized case, crafted from high-quality aluminium, came with a smart mechanism for sliding cards out with one simple motion.
From there, things moved quickly. Styles multiplied and design awards piled up. The Miniwallet, Slimwallet and Twinwallet followed, each keeping that satisfying mechanical flick at their heart. Soon, Secrid wasn’t just a clever design – it was the benchmark for the modern wallet.
But Secrid has never been only about the product. The brand is proudly rooted in the Netherlands, where every wallet is made with the help of hundreds of design experts, local suppliers and artisans. Sustainability is stitched into the seams: responsible materials, minimal waste, a product built to last. In an age of overconsumption, Secrid takes the long view.
Which brings us to the Cardprotector+, the biggest leap forward since the original. At first glance, you’ll recognise the silhouette. But look closer and you’ll spot the refinements: smoother mechanics, a sturdier build, a touch more capacity and finishes designed to withstand years of wear. It’s evolution rather than revolution – the kind of quiet improvement you only notice when you use it every day.
The Cardprotector+ is future-proofed, designed for 2025 and beyond. Standout features include a new patented auto-lock mechanism, which automatically locks all cards in place as soon as they’re inserted; new vegan high-tech fibre pads that minimise abrasion and maintain their shape; and distinctive fluted grooves for a refined, tactile feel.
It’s proof that the best designs don’t need dramatic reinvention – just the occasional, thoughtful upgrade. Much like a good suit or a classic watch, it’s a companion built to age gracefully, quietly doing its job while making you look all the better for it.
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