It was seven years ago that I read Jack Baruth’s article about a company that made wallets and guitar straps from used automotive fabrics. I thought that was interesting, certainly appropriate for a car enthusiast, and I was in need of a new wallet. I did not know what to expect but I asked my wife for one for my birthday.
My red Couch wallet was made out of real, old, reconditioned, MB-Tex. It was cool and made me instantly miss my ’83 300SD. Other than that, there was nothing really special about it. It was simply a well-designed wallet with four envelope slots for credit cards and a divided cash compartment. It locked with a quality easy-to-use snap. That’s what it was; a good wallet.
But sometimes the most obvious things are not noticed right away…


Five years into using this wallet it finally dawned on me – this thing hasn’t worn. It hasn’t worn at all in five years of daily use. Five years of being taken into and out of pants pocket a dozen times a day. Five years of holding IDs, credit cards, access cards, and cash. Five years of ski trips, summer hikes, and global flights. I went through four phones and three cars in that time period.
I am not sure if it’s the fabric or the quality workmanship that made this wallet last this long. I am guessing it’s a lot of both.
Seven years later, my wife replaced my original red wallet with an identical brown one. There was nothing wrong with my red wallet, I think she just needed a Christmas gift. Color choices are limited to the material that Couch has in stock. Good quality MB-Tex isn’t easy to obtain for anyone. But there is more to it.

Another thing that isn’t easy to obtain is quality customer service. My wife said that she called Couch several times. Because she is a perfectionist, she was asking about colors and features. She also ordered a wallet for her brother-in-law, from his wife. That order had to be cancelled, and then they ordered it again. I don’t know the final outcome of that order. What I do know that each time the person who, I assume, makes these wallets, answers the calls, and runs the whole business, was amazingly cool and friendly.
So, if you’re looking for a cool, high quality, automotive themed wallet, look no more. There is more than just MB-Tex there. There are VW vinyl wallets, GMC truck and Pontiac fabric wallets, and many more. There are belts, camera straps, toiletry bags, and, of course, guitar straps. And everything is handmade in America. 
couchguitarstraps.com