The incredible history of bags

Bags have become an integral part of the fashion industry today. However, did you know that they have a rich history? You may be surprised to learn that the history of handbags dates back to the 17th century. Today, in most English-speaking countries, handbags are still known as purses or purses. They have gone through an incredible journey of evolution to become the fashion hits they are today. Here, we will take you through the amazing history of handbags so that you can appreciate your small fashion accessories better than before.

Early history and purpose

In the 17th century, men’s and women’s clothing did not have pockets or compartments. Therefore, they efficiently carried purses to carry coins. At this time, these leather bags were quite large and the people who carried them did not give a damn about the fashion statement they created.

However, in the 18th century, women began to yearn for bags that were compact and elegant at the same time. This gave rise to one of the first bag styles ever created: crosshairs. Silk and velvet were used to create these grids that women often wore attached to their wristbands. Although these bags were originally created in France, their popularity spread to many parts of the world in the late 18th century, making them an integral part of women’s fashion.

The clutch style of bags was introduced during the Industrial Revolution Era in England. The main purpose of this bag was to carry it easily while traveling by train. This time it was at the beginning of the 20th century.

An interesting style of women’s handbags that were used during the 16th century were the Chatelaine handbags. These were not considered bags, but rather accessories worn at the waist by women with a waist chain attached to the bags. In these bags, women used to carry their essential household accessories like scissors, sewing tools, keys, and the like. The best part of these bags was that they were made of precious and semi-precious stones and were only worn by the rich or royal women.

The birth of luxury bags

It was in 1914 that an industrialist named Samuel Parkinson of Doncaster wanted special, personalized bags for his wife so that they would stand out from the rest of the bags for other passengers traveling by train. It was then that HJ Cave created the first luxury bags for Doncaster. These were produced in minimal numbers and only targeted the elite class.

modern handbags

In the 20th century, women’s handbags were no longer limited to leather, silk, precious stones, or velvet. Thanks to the popularity of these bags, many manufacturers began to make these bags out of cloth, thread, rayon, raffia, and the like. These bags were made in all shapes and sizes, so that women could use them at their convenience. This was the time when youth culture was in full swing. Today, there are hundreds of stylish crossbody bags that match the pants, miniskirts, and trendy outfits that women started wearing.

Conclusion

As you can see from the above, the beautiful bags you carry every day have evolved beautifully to get to where they are today. Choose them wisely to flaunt her personality to others.