Fashion - Interview
Interview with Olivier Momma, Founder of Ekster Wallets
Fashion - Interview
by Mehmet Kaplan
Losing your wallet can be excruciatingly stressful. A wallet that could be tracked would be much easier to find! Olivier, Rick and Richard were able to integrate today's technology to create Ekster Wallet that is not only trackable but also slim & stylish. I was able to learn more about Ekster's design, production philosophy, and future by talking to Olivier Momma.
Olivier, before talking about Ekster Wallets, could you tell us about yourself?
Photo : Olivier Momma, Founder of Ekster®
I was born in Amsterdam but I have been fortunate enough to have lived in Japan, Italy, Spain, the USA, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore. I met Rick in the US for while I was on a Fulbright scholarship and following that I took up International Business Administration in Rotterdam. During this time, I lived in Hong Kong and Singapore for Finance and IT Consulting internships respectively. During the Second year of this course, Ekster was born.
Ekster Wallets
How was the EKSTER idea born and what is the story behind it? What was the inspiration to design these minimalist wallets?
Ekster® was founded in Rotterdam, inspired by a bird called the "Magpie", also known as an "Ekster" in the Netherlands. Magpies are often referred to as "thieving magpies" due to their tendency to track down shiny objects' such as jewellery and coins. Our personal struggles with the products offered in the market today, motivated us to develop this trackable smart wallet. There are several pains and trends in the market that inspired us to design the ultimate smart wallet with a look at the future. Security issues, bulky wallets, NFC payments and too much fidgeting are all reasons why we decided to make a change in this industry.
Ekster Wallets
Could you tell us about Ekster Wallets' design & production philosophy?
Our mission:
To build innovative solutions that streamline the way you carry your everyday items.
All our products NEED to have/be:
Ekster Wallets
What does Smart Wallet mean? What are the features and advantages of this technology?
An ultra-slim trackable smart wallet with instant card access. It is designed so you never lose your wallet or phone again!
QUICK CARD ACCESS
Ekster® smart wallets allow you to access your cards with the click of a button, using our improved patent-pending mechanism.
TRACKABLE
The removable tracker card makes sure you can keep track of your smart wallet's location and ring it when lost.
SOLAR POWERED
The removable tracker card runs on solar energy and only requires 3 hours of light to last a full month.
LAST SEEN LOCATION
The TrackR app will automatically remember the last time & place you had your Ekster wallet. This way you will know exactly where to start looking.
TWO-WAY RINGER
Lost your wallet? Using the TrackR app to ring your tracker card and vice versa, double press your tracking card to ring your phone when in range.
CROWD GPS
If you lose your wallet, you’ll automatically be notified of it’s most recent location whenever a TrackR community member passes by it.
RFID BLOCKING
Our RFID/NFC blocking cardholder protects your cards from wireless skimming and private data theft.
The tracker card is so slim, where does its' power come from?
Our Tracker Card is solar-powered to ensure it never loses charge and you never lose it again. This ultra-slim tracker only needs 3 hours of sunlight to last a full month and allows you to ring your phone or wallet as well as track it on a map.
Ekster Wallets
There is an iPhone case in your collection. Does it have the same features as your wallets?
The luxury Ekster iPhone case is perfect for those who like to keep it minimal and slim. It offers room for 1 scanner card and space for emergency cash. Additionally, this iPhone wallet case has integrated slots that hold a reset pin and an extra sim card for when on the road or travelling. It works for iPhones 6, 7, and 8.
Do you use your own designed products in your daily life? What do you enjoy most about using EKSTER designs?
We are huge fans of efficiency and style, and all of our products consist of both!! We love them all ;)
Ekster Wallets
What type of materials do you prefer in your production? What are your products common features?
All our products are handcrafted from the highest quality genuine leather available in Europe. Our tanneries serve only top-of-the-line luxury leather brands. Each and every one of Ekster's wallets has its own unique characteristics and ages beautifully over time.
How often do you add a new design to your collection? Do you plan for any new product?
Every year we launch a new generation of our flagship products and add at least two products! A new launch is coming soon, to be the first to find out, sign up to our newsletter.
Ekster Wallets
What is the importance of social media for EKSTER? How can our readers follow EKSTER?
Both social media channels and our newsletter are the first places where we announce our new sneap previews, discounts, and giveaways!
Instagram - @eksterwallets
Facebook - @eksterwallets
Twitter - @eksterwallets
Pinterest - @eksterwallets
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcJJkI9nu0PugV5vh86EDrQ?view_as=subscriber
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/10221195/admin/updates/
How can our readers buy EKSTER products? Do you have an international delivery option?
ekster.com (we ship worldwide, express and for FREE in EU and US)
What are your plans for the future?
Launching a wide range of innovative solutions for organized access, safeguarding daily accessories in the most stylish manner.
Thank you Olivier.
For more information, please visit website of Ekster Wallets
This interview was conducted in a Question-and-Answer format. The answers were checked for grammar and punctuation and published without any additional editing. Thursday, August 30, 2018. All photos are the property of their respective owners.