Behind The Scene

There is more to a product than the product itself. To me, what happens behind the scene is as important as what you physically get. I think, transparency, honesty and authenticity are vital. Here are some facts about the Recycled Magic Wallet's applied material and process you might want to know.

:: components used

I am using elastic made in Swirtzerland (retailer is Migros) and for the bespoke wallets Velcro made in Spain. Tetra Pak is made in Europe, I also use Elopak, Pure-Pack or any beverage carton I get and buy from local stores really. The staples, tape and adhesive plastic foil I get from small shops and are "made abroad", I suppose it's China, I'm sorry.

Why not using new and nice material?

Shop local. Reduce - reuse - recycle - dump. That's my philosopy. Today, most of the beverage cartons (especially in Switzerland) are not being recycled - but burnt or dumped. Before this material ends up in landfills, dissolves in fire, or is given for recycling, it makes sense to make it stay valuable a little longer in other products. Things like the Recycled Magic Wallet. I found that beverage carton suits the puropse perfectly. It's light, strong, clean and water resistant.

However, I can cover the carton with any kind of material. Have a look at some examples here. You can order your bespoke wallet here.

:: energy consumptioned

None. If working at daylight, making Recycled Magic Wallet uses nothing but human power. This is almost crazy as products like these are very, very rare in our world full of technology and electronic machines. Well, almost none. Making these websites and printing the labels for instance consumes energy.

Why not using other machines apart from the computer?

Don't get me wrong. I'm not at all against technological progress. I consider myself an early adopter of web 2.0 offers. I love the internet, I love my iPhone, I love listening to podcasts making the wallets. But I also love using my hands - that's a reason why I make Recycled Magic Wallets entirely by hand. Another reason is: It just works perfectly without using any machine. And thirdly: It makes me locally independent, I could and would like to make wallets in the Himalaya.

:: tools used

I need a cutting board, a scalpel, a ruler, a folding stick, a stapler, a needle, a pincer and my patterns. That's it.

Wouldn't it be quicker and easier to make and use machines that cut, glue, sew?

Yes it would. It could. But mass production - more and faster - is not where I'm heading to. This strategy has brought us where we are now. We cannot NOT change our practice if we want to change the world. I prefer the tough but truely rewarding way: Using my hands only. Being able to create something from scratch just using tools that are not designed for one specific use is a true challenge and asks for more creativity I believe. I like challenge, I like being creative.

:: technique applied

It is true. Many people with skillful hands can make a Recycled Magic Wallet. They may do so for their own use, as this would benefit our goal: changeing practices to make the world a nicer place to live in. However, to get good quality work, technique has to be applied i.e. skill and practice, time and patience. Believe me, it took me a long, long time and a lot of prototypes to figure out how a Recycled Magic Wallet has to be crafted to work best - and I'm still learning.

So how do you do it?

I figured out a way that takes about 225 individual steps to finish a wallet which does come up to my idea of best quality goods. Finally! Have a look at the video (under construction). You'll see, by now, making ready-to-go Reacycled Magic Wallets has become more like a meditation and recreation to me. I don't have to think much anymore, just do, pass time, create and enjoy myself. As much as I love to be challennged by thinking of new, better ways and trying out new things I also have the need to do "boring" stuff and practice routine. I believe a good balance is vital.

:: less is often more

I chose to make ready-to-go Recycled Magic Wallets as small and simple as possible. Small things save on material and space. But this could be a problem. It would mean people using the slim Recycled Magic Wallet must cut down too. Thinking of your wallet... how fat is it? Do you really need all these things you are carrying around in your wallet all the time? Why not try if you can make do with less by carrying only your cards, some paper money and name cards. The rest you can keep digitally in your phone or physically in your bag, your car or at home, can't you? (Besides, if you are male, slim wallets look better when you carry them in your jeans pocket... but that's only a humble opinion from a girl who likes to look at nice things;))

You don't need a new wallet?

It's great if you can make most of the things you already have. But still. In any case If you - or someone you know - would ever feel like adopting a new and responsible way of storing paper or cards, even if only for a certain time or occasion (for example when traveling or clubbing), it still makes sense to carry a Recycled Magic Wallet. Why? Because Recycled magic Wallets steal time from other wallets that too often are made in a questionable way by poor people in need unnecessarily wasting precious material. Yes, less is more - but more of the good stuff is even better.

:: any problem?

I try to deliver best quality goods but somethimes things aren't perfect. In any unlucky case that the wallet doesn't come up with the quality I promise, please contact me. I'd be happy to fix the bug or if it's only a tiny thing you might be able to fix it yourself and safe the post fee. In this case I'd be happy to give you instructions.

:: the end

Everything has an end. Also Recycled Magic Wallets. What to do if time has come to say bye? Either you can give it to a beverage carton recycling facility, or you can sent it back to me and I will wash and reuse the elastic for a new wallet if it's still functionable and if makes sense in terms of sustainability. I'm not sure yet.