The popularity of mini-wallets has risen dramatically in recent years as we increasingly become a cashless society. L-zip wallets and trifolds are still the biggest sellers, but money clips are starting to get more attention as well. Though widely-known in Japan, for some reason such clips are viewed as more of an enthusiast item that can’t quite achieve major prevalence.
It is commonly thought that money clips originated in the West as a tool for holding bills used to tip. This is why many believe they remain a somewhat unfamiliar item in Japan. However, the fact that the first thing that comes to most people’s minds here when they think of money clips are metal models that seem difficult to use is perhaps another factor preventing them from becoming more widespread.
Are you aware, though, of another type called the money clip wallet? It looks exactly like a regular bifold wallet except that when opened there is a clip for holding bills in the centre. It goes without saying that many of these money clips wallets are extremely thin and thus exactly what people want today. While it can be difficult to extract cash from L-zip or trifold wallets, the same action couldn’t be easier with a money clip wallet. What’s more, many models also have pockets for cards and coins, too.

Naturally, most of the brands putting effort into money clips are from the West, and Glenroyal is no different, with three models available. This small money clip is the most minimal of our line-up. When opened, one can see that it has just two card pockets. The left side has a holder for receipts and other papers. The secret to its extremely pared-down design are that it only has space for the bare necessities like cash, credit cards, and IC cards for commuting, and that the pockets hold the cards vertically. Having a bulge in your jacket pocket while wearing a suit will never be a worry with this clip. While it is fun to follow the trendsetters and go with a mini wallet, we recommend presenting a smart, minimalist lifestyle with a money clip.