Portemonnees

Portemonnees are small carry items designed to hold money, cards, and other compact essentials. In Dutch, portemonnee refers to a wallet, and the plural portemonnees denotes more than one. In English, the closest equivalents are wallet or billfold, while “portemonnaie” in French and some other languages traces back to similar origins.

Etymology and terminology tracing the concept, portemonnee derives from the French term portemonnaie, meaning a pouch or place to carry money. The Dutch adoption preserves a similar sense of a compact, portable container for cash and valuables.

Design and features vary, but most portemonnees include compartments for paper currency, a coin pocket, and slots for bank cards. Many also offer an ID window, a space for receipts, and sometimes a zippered section. Modern variants range from minimalist cardholders with a few slots to larger bifold or trifold wallets that unfold to reveal multiple compartments. Some models incorporate RFID-blocking layers to deter unauthorized card scanning, and there are travel wallets with passport and document sleeves.

Materials and manufacturing, traditional portemonnees are commonly made from leather, including cowhide or calfskin, but they are also produced in fabric, synthetics, vegan leather, and metal. Craftsmanship ranges from hand-stitched to mass-produced designs, with a growing emphasis on sustainability and recycled materials.

Cultural context and trends, wallets are widely used worldwide, though the rise of digital payments has influenced preferred sizes and styles. Care tips include keeping leather conditioned and dry, avoiding overstuffing, and cleaning with a soft cloth.