Revisiting the Classic

When I started Twenty-one Astor, I made a quiet promise to myself: I would always lean toward minimalist everyday carry. Fewer pockets. Less bulk. Only what’s needed.

For a long time, that meant staying away from the traditional bifold altogether.

But over the years, people kept coming back to it. Not out of habit, but out of preference. They liked the familiarity. The way it opens. The way it carries cash and cards without explanation. And eventually, that persistence made me curious.

This year, I decided to revisit the bifold — not to compromise my original point of view, but to challenge it.

The goal wasn’t to reinvent the wallet. It was to edit it. To remove excess. To simplify the lines. To make something that still felt classic, but unmistakably aligned with why I started this work in the first place.

What surprised me most was how rewarding that process turned out to be. Stepping outside my comfort zone didn’t dilute the brand — it sharpened it. This piece feels like a bridge between where Twenty-one Astor began and where it’s heading.

Of all the projects from 2025, this one stands out. Not just because of how it looks or functions, but because of what it represents: growth without abandoning principles.

It’s a reminder that sometimes the most meaningful progress comes from revisiting old ideas with a clearer point of view.