The History of Handbags From Time Immemorial!

The HISTORY OF HANDBAGS newfashionfantasy.com From Time Immemorial! The history of handbags goes way back to the Bible. It was mentioned that Judas Iscariot was always seen wearing a purse. In ancient Egypt, males carried purse-like pouches tied about their waist. Early rural societies saw peasants using small bags to transport seeds and even some of the African counterparts carried beaded bags. 14th century Handbags Drawstring bags were used to carry money. They were attached to girdles through a long cord that was fastened to the waist. This arrangement of the "bag" was especially popular in that period as the pockets were not invented until after several hundred years. In the same period, many women were often seen wearing ornate drawstring bags that were referred to as "hamondeys" or "tasques" and these bags gradually became a symbol of social status. 15th century Handbags Handbags in this era were more commonly linked to marriage. A common wedding in this period was a pouch presented from the groom to bride. The pouches - or the bags for that matter – were adorned with ornate coverings. Knights and those fond of hunting carried purses, called as "chaneries" for carrying food for falcons and other large birds used for gaming. It was in this century that the well-known Seal Bag - created for Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom – became one of the most talked about bag of this time. Ecclesiastical purses that were used to hold relics and corporals became significant in this period. 16th century Handbags Women wore girdle pouches concealing them beneath their expansive petticoats and men wore leather pockets called as "bagges" inside their breeches. Cloth bags that were worn diagnolly acroos the body became famous among the peasants and travelers of this era. 17th century Handbags This period marked a revolutionary era in the history of handbags as many young girls of this time were taught embroidery as a necessary skill which ultimately lead to a sudden rise in ornately stitched handbags. Ironically, embroidery was taught to girls as a skill that would to make them marriageable. Purses were used as gift receptacles in many occassions. Towards the end the seventeeth century, the plain drawstring pouches that were earlier thought as a must became more and more elaborate in both shape and material giving rise to countless designs. 18th century Handbags The French Revolution augmented the need for better handbags as the full skirts wore back then lost demand and the new slender and narrow classical dresses ruled. In Europe, handbags were termed as "reticules" or "indispensables," signyfying the growing need of the accessory. 19th century Handbags Advancements in technological lead to different styles and fabrics for the handbags design and production industries. Women wore embroidered purses with an intent to show them off to their potential husbands. The advancement of the railroad and train travel in 1800s increased the need for hand-held luggage and, as a consequence, the "handbags" became part of the evryday accessories for women that could hold most of their possessions. Early 1900s Leather shopping bags and briefcases that are ideal to be worn around the shoulder came into existence. Men carried briefcases that had folders inside them for the freshly invented pound note that replaced the gold sovereign in 1914. In the early 1900s, the pound note was freshly invented to replace the gold sovereign that was in use. As a result, briefcases that many men carried to their work , included folders inside them for the pound notes. Dorothy bags and small drawstring pouches became a must for women and more choices were entering the market to match their robes, muffs and leather bags. This timeline gave way for the Opera glasses and the folding fans that were often seen dangling to Dorothy bags. 1920s After WWI, women carried "pochettes," casually under their arms and the handbags no longer needed to coordinate with the women's outfit. Egyptian-inspired art was used ubiquitously on purses and handbags following the discovery of King Tutankhamen's tomb. 1930s Shoulder bags, satchels, clasp bags and the clutchs – which are an iteration of the earlier pochettes – came into mainstream fashion. Bags reflected the Art Deco movement with the inclusion of new materisla such as plastic and zippers. 1940s Following WWII, the earlier Art Deco style changed to a military, austere style and the handbags became bigger to be self-sufficient. 1950s Design houses including Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Hermes entered the market. 1960s Youthful bag styles including long, narrow clutch and dainty shoulder bags with long chains became popular. They complemented the dressing styles popular during the era. 1970s As a result of many young peoples' frequent travels to India, large satchels and fabric shoulder bags bacame part of the everyday style. Women donned bags with lots of buckles and zipper. This symbolised their readiness and support for the feminist movement. 1980s Increasing concern over fitness gave rise to the mass production of sports bags. 21st Century Handbags are made in an extensive array of styles, sizes, materials and purposes. Technological advances lend endless handbag material and construction opportunities. Handbags begin to be popular with men. source: NewFashionFantasy.com