The Wallet Throughout The Years
The wallet is a handy personal item which has evolved over time. It is a personal convenience item which brings with it both security as well as practicality. The modern wallet now comes with more pouches and is more lightweight than ever. As a personal comfort item, it is hard to argue its impact on society.
Unfortunately,nobody truly knows who invented the wallet. It is believed that the term "wallet" has been in use since the first century A.D. as a reference to a bag or knapsack for carrying goods. We do know that wallets have been used for thousands of year to carry personal items of value. Humans have always been highly mobile, moving from one area to another, and thus the need for a personal container while in transit was always evident. The earliest wallets were simply tied pieces of cloth, designed to hold coins to the market.
As money and currency became more widespread, wallets became common and used to carry other items such as dried meat, victuals, or personal treasures. It became common practice in 19th century America to carry one's wallet on one's belt.
The wallet became a staple consumer accessory in the 1950s with the introduction of credit cards. Wallets evolved to include multiple "card slots" and quickly became the standard way for people to carry their personal goods. While there have been many changes, the modern wallet is still typically made with leather. The modern wallet now holds a wide variety of items which holds our identity as individuals. The modern wallet can become obese quickly if used to carry the whole range of items flooded upon us on a daily basis. This includes but is not limited to money, receipts, notes, debit cards, drivers license, merchant cards, medical cards, credit cards, and business cards. That's a whole lot of cards!
The popularity of the wallet can partially be credited to a consumer society which encourages us to buy and buy some more. People will make purchases on basic necessities such as food and clothing but they will also make purchases for purely recreational reasons as well. People will automatically carry their wallets with them everywhere, even when they have no intention of buying anything. The information in our wallets can be used to identify us with certain banks or affiliations. Credit cards cater to our impulse to buy as they are now almost universally accepted as a form of payment worldwide. If we feel like we need that brand new gadget, we have easy access to the means to take it home.
Additionally, wallets provide us with a level of security when moving about and traveling. They provide a stable way to carry one's personal belongings in one place without having to scramble to find one thing after another, increasing our odds of losing something in the scramble. While traveling, some people prefer to wear money belts which are pouches worn underneath the clothes hidden from sight of potential thieves. Wallets provide piece of mind in knowing that in an event of an emergency, we have a means of accessing payment. In a crisis, we have our personal contact information with us at all times. Since carrying wallets are a highly convenient and practical way for us to carry our personal goods, they will continue to be a valued part of our day to day lives for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately,nobody truly knows who invented the wallet. It is believed that the term "wallet" has been in use since the first century A.D. as a reference to a bag or knapsack for carrying goods. We do know that wallets have been used for thousands of year to carry personal items of value. Humans have always been highly mobile, moving from one area to another, and thus the need for a personal container while in transit was always evident. The earliest wallets were simply tied pieces of cloth, designed to hold coins to the market.
As money and currency became more widespread, wallets became common and used to carry other items such as dried meat, victuals, or personal treasures. It became common practice in 19th century America to carry one's wallet on one's belt.
The wallet became a staple consumer accessory in the 1950s with the introduction of credit cards. Wallets evolved to include multiple "card slots" and quickly became the standard way for people to carry their personal goods. While there have been many changes, the modern wallet is still typically made with leather. The modern wallet now holds a wide variety of items which holds our identity as individuals. The modern wallet can become obese quickly if used to carry the whole range of items flooded upon us on a daily basis. This includes but is not limited to money, receipts, notes, debit cards, drivers license, merchant cards, medical cards, credit cards, and business cards. That's a whole lot of cards!
The popularity of the wallet can partially be credited to a consumer society which encourages us to buy and buy some more. People will make purchases on basic necessities such as food and clothing but they will also make purchases for purely recreational reasons as well. People will automatically carry their wallets with them everywhere, even when they have no intention of buying anything. The information in our wallets can be used to identify us with certain banks or affiliations. Credit cards cater to our impulse to buy as they are now almost universally accepted as a form of payment worldwide. If we feel like we need that brand new gadget, we have easy access to the means to take it home.
Additionally, wallets provide us with a level of security when moving about and traveling. They provide a stable way to carry one's personal belongings in one place without having to scramble to find one thing after another, increasing our odds of losing something in the scramble. While traveling, some people prefer to wear money belts which are pouches worn underneath the clothes hidden from sight of potential thieves. Wallets provide piece of mind in knowing that in an event of an emergency, we have a means of accessing payment. In a crisis, we have our personal contact information with us at all times. Since carrying wallets are a highly convenient and practical way for us to carry our personal goods, they will continue to be a valued part of our day to day lives for the foreseeable future.
Source...