2024

A project that has become a reality

MONARQ's story is inextricably linked to our desire to innovate and create differently. In 2024, driven by a shared passion for functional design and precision, we sought to rethink everyday objects: eliminating the superfluous, correcting the weaknesses we saw elsewhere—compromised security, excessive bulk, ephemeral materials. Our goal was simple: to create a card holder that is fair, secure, and durable, where every detail serves a real purpose.

Born in Quebec, we combined the rigor of engineering with the clarity of design to give shape to this idea. From the lightness of aluminum to the precision of the finishes, every choice reflects the same philosophy: do less, but better.

Chapter I

The initial observation: There was a better way to do it

As contactless payments became widespread, a subtle risk emerged: the unauthorized reading of cards at very close range. In crowds, on the subway, or in airports, devices can detect a chip from just a few centimeters away. The solutions on the market—"anti-RFID" cards, inserts, unnecessary thicknesses—seemed to us to be temporary and cumbersome. We wanted a sustainable approach: to combine slimness, security, and elegance. To protect through the material itself, without any added effort.

Chapter II

The founding idea

“When we created MONARQ, Mathis and I had a clear idea: to offer real and effective protection against today's threats while maintaining an elegant, simple, and compact design. It wasn't easy, but we managed to combine all these requirements into a minimal format.”

CRISTIAN CUMATRENCO

In 2024, we launched the MONARQ project and opened our research: understanding NFC/RFID risks, analyzing uses, testing formats and ergonomics.

The core idea quickly took hold: a machined aluminum block integrating RFID protection within its very structure. A continuous conductive layer blocks all contactless reading, without any external additions. This compact and precise monolithic core holds 5 to 6 cards in less than a centimeter of thickness and releases them with a smooth and controlled movement.

“We chose MONARQ with the monarch butterfly in mind: a symbol of precise trajectories, patient migrations, and lasting lightness. We refined the word to retain only the essentials, like our products. The final Q signifies our Quebec and our commitment to the nautical world. MONARQ encapsulates our promise: Quality, security, minimalism.”

MATHIS CRUL MORIN

Chapter III

Always further, always more just

After testing our aluminum block and making our first sales, we felt we could go further. MONARQ is, above all, a conviction: never stop at what works, but strive to perfect what can be improved. We therefore embarked on a process of continuous improvement, guided by a constant question: how can we offer something better, without ever compromising simplicity or precision?

"The aluminum card holder was an excellent start: solid, reliable, secure. But it had its limitations. We then imagined the logical next step: a leather section, designed to integrate harmoniously with the pad without adding weight."

MATHIS CRUL MORIN

Magnetic evidence

One question remained: how to join leather and aluminum without disrupting the balance? Glued or screwed solutions added weight and contradicted our philosophy. Magnetic technology then became the obvious choice: fluid, precise, and discreet. The two parts join naturally and separate with a single movement when only the cards are needed. This modularity extends our founding principle: adapting to every use without adding bulk. Furthermore, each aluminum block incorporates a MagSafe®-compatible magnet, allowing the card holder to be attached directly to the phone.

Chapter IV

The realization

In 2025, we present our first collection: the Classic Collection .
It represents the culmination of a long process of research and improvement and embodies everything we have sought to achieve from the beginning: the simplicity of the gesture, the accuracy of the form and the durability of the material.
A collection designed to last, without excess or artifice, the purest expression of what MONARQ stands for: doing less, but better.


Chapter V

Today

Today, MONARQ continues its work with the same rigor and passion for detail. Following the Classic Collection, each test and improvement aims to refine our work: perfecting the form, enhancing the material, simplifying the process.

Our research extends to new finishes, textures and colours that extend our identity, as well as to more natural and sustainable materials.

Our approach is based on proximity and collaboration: understanding our partners, respecting their expertise and creating together, with precision, high standards and a shared desire to always go further.

MONARQ represents a shared commitment.