Sonnenleder Wallet "Trave" natural

The "Trave" is a wallet crafted from southern German cowhide in pure handwork made in Germany. The leather is tanned traditionally in the pit using purely plant-based methods – a process that gives the natural leather a lively, warm surface and leaves a characteristic, earthy leather scent. In hand, it's immediately apparent what this is about: firm, supple leather with fine grain that adapts to its owner over time.

Features

• Pit tanning, purely plant-based: The cowhide is tanned in Germany using traditional methods without synthetic tanning agents. The surface remains lively and breathable – it changes with rain, sun and heat, building up an individual patina over years.
• Southern German cowhides: Each "Trave" is made from carefully selected hides sourced from southern Germany. Colour and structure variations between individual pieces are material and production-related – each wallet is a unique piece.
• Comprehensive compartmentalisation: 2 banknote slots, 1 large coin pocket with zip, 6 credit card slots and 3 slip pockets (2 behind the coin pocket, 1 behind the credit card slots) – ample space for ID, driving licence and vehicle documents in card format.
• Polished metal zippers: The coin pocket zip consists of polished metal from German manufacture – it runs smoothly and evenly without snagging, and provides a subtle accent against the matt natural leather.
• German rubber webbing: Internal card holders are made from robust rubber webbing – elastic enough for multiple cards, firm enough to keep everything secure.
• Pure handcraft: Cut, stitched and finished without machine mass production – seams are neatly placed, edges evenly sanded and sealed.

Use & Tips

• Natural pit-tanned leather is untreated and absorbs care products particularly well. A thin application of plant-based leather grease – such as beeswax or tallow-based – immediately after unpacking protects the surface and supports patina formation from the start.
• The wallet opens flat: this makes access to banknotes and coin pocket equally convenient – practical in everyday use when speed matters.
• The slip pockets behind the coin pocket are ideal for documents you use less frequently (vehicle registration, insurance card), so your frequently used cards in the credit card slots above stay readily accessible.
• Simply let wet leather air dry – no hairdryer, no heating. Pit-tanned leather absorbs moisture and releases it evenly; this is part of its natural behaviour and doesn't damage the material.
• Colour change from UV light is pronounced in natural leather: if you want to actively control the patina, you can regularly remove the wallet from your bag and expose it to light at first – this creates a more even colour progression.

For Leather Enthusiasts

Pit tanning is the oldest preserved tanning process and takes between several months and over a year depending on the tannery – compared with just a few hours for chrome-tanned industrial leather. The collagen in the cowhide is slowly and deeply tanned by tannins from plant sources (such as oak bark, spruce bark or sumac). The result is leather with high tensile strength, pronounced three-dimensional fibre structure and significantly stronger shape memory than quickly tanned alternatives. The lively surface that Sonnenleder describes develops precisely from this: each section of hide reacts individually to light, heat and friction – the wallet becomes denser, smoother and deeper in colour tone over time.

Technical Specifications