Why a Handbag? A Short History of the Handbag....

All of us handbag lovers use our handbags every day, change the styles depending on the season/fashion/what outfit we are wearing, but have you ever wondered - where did handbags come from and why did we start using handbags?

Handbags have been used since early times, firstly as pouches used to carry seeds and medicines - and both men and women carried these pouches.   In the 15th century, traditionally a bag was a gift which a bridegroom gave to his bride.   These bags were elaborately decorated - usually embroidery - with a love story.   In the 16th century, women carried "sweet bags" which held lavender and were used to scent their handkerchiefs!   Around this time, pockets became common in clothing and were used to carry small personal items.

By the 18th century, women's clothing became more fitting and this was when women began carrying small, silk embroidered pouches to carry their personal items - such as a handkerchief, fan, perfume, face powder and dance card.

In the Victorian period, handbags became very popular and became more like the handbags we know today.   As well as drawstring bags, bags began to be made of different fabrics and colours to co-ordinate with an outfit and were circular or square shape and decorated with embroidery and beads.

By the early 20th century, women were carrying bags every time they left home and handbags were becoming more and more popular.   And, handbags have adapted well through the ages - changing to accommodate what women considered necessary to carry within them.   From the seeds and medicines of earlier years to sunglasses and cosmetics of more modern years.   And the size of handbags has also adapted - it was once regarded as "lady-like" to carry as little as possible, therefore, handbags were small whilst the modern woman who works and has children, needs a large bag to carry as much as possible!!

Shoulder bags became popular during World War 2 and technology created a wide variety of materials for handbags from canvas to faux leather and other synthetic materials.   And as these fabrics became more popular for handbags, it became commonplace for women to have a variety of handbags to be prepared for any occasion and outfit.   

Today, a woman would feel at a loss without her handbag.   Her handbag shows her personal taste and carries her personal items and......secrets!   And yet, the handbag fashion has never really been popular with men - whilst it is not uncommon to see a man with a courier bag or a messenger bag, men still prefer to use pockets to carry personal items.   A man's suit will tend to have numerous external and internal pockets, a woman's suit or jacket, will only have a couple of pockets - and usually these are shallow or just for decoration.

So, in summary - a woman NEEDS her handbag.