Combining advanced materials with efficient design, Common Fibers has fashioned the perfect product line of minimalist, utilitarian wallets. Each product is hand crafted from 100% aerospace grade carbon fiber and durable rip-stop nylon, which results in built in RFID protection for your credit cards. The MAX is a sleek and minimalist take on the standard men’s wallet. Featuring six credit card slots, two hidden compartments, and a billfold; it gives you the comforts of your existing wallet without the bulk. The SLM wallet was designed for those who travel light. The left side of the wallet features three standard sized credit card pockets. Aerospace Grade Carbon Fiber We use US sourced authentic carbon fiber in all products. Although many competitors produce a high-quality aesthetic using substitutes, we are keen on the durability and product lifespan benefits that only real carbon fiber can provide. RFID Protection Over 32% of Americans have experienced credit card fraud in the last five years. This has spawned legitimate concerns over credit cards security and your leather wallet may be leaving you exposed. We utilize RF shielding materials that reduce the risk of credit card scanning and help ensure our users' banking information is safe. Handmade in the USA With quality craftsmanship right in our backyard, we see no reason to go overseas. We have partnered with the highest quality suppliers and vendors here in Seattle and throughout the US. These partnerships allow us to keep a close eye on quality while strengthening our local economy. Durable Ripstop Interior In selecting our materials we wanted an interior fabric that mirrored the resilience and style of the carbon fiber exterior. With its résumé in the outdoor market, we chose a durable PVC backed ripstop that has a higher tensile strength than leather while being a fraction of the thickness. Patented CF-Lex Hinge Our patented method allows us to make the only continuous carbon fiber wallet. To the user, it means enhanced durability, improved RF shielding, and a sleek look. We took what defines a good wallet and made it great. We believe that innovation and quality should be the cornerstones of all products. At Common Fibers, we combine the most advanced materials to deliver durable, high-quality products. Our mission is to increase access to composites by expanding it uses through the design of simple, functional, and efficient products. About the Startup Describe your product in 3 words. Innovative Minimalist Wallets How did you come up with the idea for this product? In the winter of 2011 on a drive from Seattle to San Luis Obispo, Ann Livingston-Peters, materials engineering, and Gabriel Mountjoy, mechanical engineering, had an idea that sparked the creation of Common Fibers. It was a simple revelation that carbon fiber could be made more functional by creating hinges within the material itself. It took another year to determine how to create such a hinge. After trying many methods, Ann and Gabe discovered that the most effective way to create a hinge in carbon fiber was to use a laser. From that point on, the application list only grew. It was during this time that Myles Bradwell, industrial technology, joined the team to help Common Fibers with marketing and sales. Common Fibers took second place at Cal Poly’s Innovation Quest and was accepted into the SLO Hot House FastTrac Program. Through the following summer, Common Fibers formed as an LLC and began taking steps towards launching a Kickstarter campaign. After months of preparation, Common Fibers was successfully funded on Kickstarter and moved into a manufacturing facility. Despite the many applications of the CF-Lex Hinge Technology, including fold up wheelchair ramps, airplane wing flaps, and automotive hinges; Common Fibers has decided to launch with simple consumer goods that put the technology directly in the consumer’s hands, or pockets. What makes your product special? Our products are special because of the materials we use. Each wallet is fabricated from aerospace grade carbon fiber, the same material used in aircrafts and race cars, and durable rip-stop nylon, the same material used in backpacking and emergency equipment. We hand assemble every wallet in Washington state, personally checking for quality and perfection. The final product is built to last, built with our customers in mind, and built with RFID protection to protect your personal information. What has been the best part of your startup experience? The best part of our startup experience has been the constant learning and growing we have done over the last two years. Every day is different; taking on new challenges, meeting new people, and learning from our customers. We are continually trying to improve, become more efficient, and deliver the best product we can. Our journey started as friends in college, and now we continue as partners experiencing this wild business journey together; one product, one business, one step at a time.
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