MEMORY CARD HOLDER

Created in collaboration with La Perruque, this wallet pays tribute to the souvenir wallets brought back by American soldiers during the Korean War. Inspired by original hand-painted models from the 1950s, it brings together French leather craftsmanship and the nostalgic imagination of military and popular archives.

Crafted from full-grain Baranil calf leather sourced from the Degermann tannery and lined with tone-on-tone goat leather from Maison Alran, it combines durability, refinement, and a uniquely supple touch. Each piece features an exclusive hand-painted motif: a tiger framed by the French and Japanese flags, accompanied by inscriptions recalling the historical period that inspires this collection.

Handmade in La Perruque’s Parisian workshop, this wallet reflects an exceptional level of craftsmanship: saddle stitching, hand-painted edges, and meticulous finishing. Its sleek format holds up to 10 cards while preserving a slim, elegant silhouette.

The illustration is painted by a Paris-based artist, giving each piece a unique and personal dimension. More than a simple accessory, this wallet embodies an object of memory where archives, travel, and craftsmanship converge.

Context

During the Korean War, American soldiers purchased or commissioned souvenir objects in the ports of Japan and Europe. Small hand-painted card holders were among these intimate treasures, often decorated with flags, tigers, or symbolic landscapes.

The Souvenir Wallet pays homage to this vanished tradition, where a simple accessory became a capsule of memory, fusing local craftsmanship with military imagery. Between Paris and Tokyo, it reminds us that memory lives not only in great garments but also in the objects one keeps close to the heart.