The History of Handbags

Handbags are more than just a fashion accessory for women. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and serve a number of different purposes as well. Most people use handbags regularly. And you might think handbags just include women’s handbags but that’s not true at all! The history of handbags goes way back – they’ve been around for a long time. From satchels, bucket bags, clutches, totes, backpacks, athletic bags, baguette bags, cross-body bags, hobo bags, and purses – handbags have evolved considerably but still continue to be fashion icons. Not to mention, they’re very useful as well.

Of course, when choosing a handbag, you’ll need to first decide the purpose/use and then look for a design and pallet that compliments your style. Regardless, the handbag industry has something for everyone – even men. Did you know that like makeup, handbags were also originally made for men but slowly made their way into women’s fashion? And yes, of course, early handbags have undergone considerable modifications to date – making them more well-suited to the current times’ needs.

Naturally, though, it makes sense to wonder where these handbags came from in the first place. Who invented them? And why? Who changed them? What has the handbag gone through during the course of its history? And how has it become such a well-known fashion icon?

So, if you’re curious to know how handbags came to be, keep reading because we’ll answer all your questions!

Who Invented the First Handbag?

Purses are essentially used to carry money and other personal items, and they’ve been around for more than 5000 years. The first-ever bag was found along with the remains of Europe’s oldest natural mummy, Otti the Iceman. It was a simple chamois bag with a strap. Also, ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depict men wearing bag-like accessories too. Nevertheless, it’s hard to trace back to the inventor of the first handbag. In the ancient and middle-ages, handbags were used by both men and women to store different items. And in a sense, they still are, considering handbags aren’t just women’s handbags – purses and backpacks count too.

Sure, handbags have greatly evolved over the years and now come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors. But the essence is still the same. During the Renaissance, people used to wear purses or pouches that were hidden inside their clothes – so, basically pockets. And throughout the history of the handbag, the only constant has been adaptation. The handbag was consistently adapted during different fashion eras as per the requirements of the time. The first handbag, thus, was obviously nothing like the handbags we know today. Plus, handbags are pretty old, hence we can’t identify the inventor of the first-ever handbag. We can though, identify the inventor of the first modern-day handbag.

Samuel Parkinson was an entrepreneur who got custom-made luggage bags designed for himself and his wife. He noticed that the available bags were not large enough to support their luggage, and thus, he contracted H.J Cave to manufacture handbags in different sizes. At the time, most people believed that women shouldn’t carry huge bags around with them. And so, the brand continued to produce these handbags but only for royalty and celebrities. But no, the handbag’s story didn’t end here either – it was re-invented again and again over the ages before it became the fashion icon that we now know it as.

Why Are Handbags Called Handbags?

The first handbags were basically just pouches made from animal hides and leaves, so whoever thought of calling them handbags?

Well, handbags were probably not always called handbags since the term only emerged in the 1900s to describe satchels and briefcases for men. In fact, men were the first customers of the handbag – it was only later adopted by women. However, now even women’s handbags come in satchel and briefcase-type designs where they can store all sorts of items. So much so, the 1920s saw a real boost in the handbag industry with different designs, materials, colors, and sizes making their way to the traditional market. But coming back to why handbags are called handbags, the answer is pretty clear. Handbags are bags to store/carry things and they’re usually thrown over the shoulder or carried by hand, and thus, it kind of makes sense to call them handbags.

Why Was the Handbag Invented?

They say necessity is the mother of invention – and they’re right. Hence, to understand why there was a need for the invention of the handbag, let’s consider a world without handbags.

Just imagine there are no handbags to carry your big or small items, so what do you do? Do you just leave everything at home and go back to get things when you need them? Or do you carry everything separately in your hands?

But then again, you have just two hands, so how many things could you possibly carry?

Obviously, handbags are very convenient. They’re best recognized as fashion pieces but that’s not all there is to them. The history of handbags goes way back. The initial designs were simplistic pouches of animal skins but they still served the purpose, i.e., to enable man to carry things in a more organized manner. And of course, it was not always practical to carry around huge bags which led to the development of different-sized handbags. Handbags were fashioned in different materials and various sizes to suit the needs of a wider audience. And somewhere down the line, someone must have decided that it would be neat to customize or decorate their handbags to make them aesthetically pleasing as well. And that’s what we call adaptation!

So, basically, handbags were a natural product of adaptation. People felt the need to have a proper system to carry their belongings with them to different places, and thus, the “technology” came about. This isn’t really much different from how a new product is launched in modern markets upon the realization of a gap. Sure, the term entrepreneur has only recently gained popularity but the concept has always been there. Brands have always sought new business avenues with innovative products to facilitate their audience. And of course, it is also very much possible that the first inventor of the handbag didn’t even have any idea that their ‘invention’ would become such a big deal.

During the history of the handbag, we’ve seen it evolve with the ever-changing needs of the people. We’ve seen it become bigger, and smaller, and then bigger again to cater to many different occasions. With the emergence of water-proof technologies, brands started producing water-proof handbags. Luxury brands like Chanel and Louis Vuitton focused on producing premium handbags for the elite classes. While other brands aimed to make them more affordable for the general public. What started as a simple way for men to carry their belongings, turned into the modern-day women's handbag that is loved so. Therefore, the handbag is a perfect example of how the need for a certain product gave rise to its market, though of course, the handbag’s story isn’t really that simple. Because who knows what kinds of handbags we’re yet to see?

The Story of the Handbag

Despite the fact that handbags are often considered mere accessories, they’re very much a necessity. Actually, it really depends on who the user is because handbags can be used for fashionable or functional purposes, and sometimes both as well. So much so, some people even consider it a proper survival kit because, without handbags, it would be impossible to take more than a thing or two with you anywhere. But regardless of the functional or fashionable aspect, the usage of handbags, especially in terms of their contents, is pretty personal.

The early versions of handbags called girdles were belt-like and women hung them around their waists, while men hid their purses between the folds of their garments. This was gradually replaced by pockets, which were soon followed by reticules. The reticule was a small bag that was carried in the hand and was usually beautifully decorated as well. It was a great gift idea during that time. In fact, handbags were considered so important that Freud even likened them to the vagina – yes, really!

Nevertheless, the reticules were also eventually replaced by chatelaines which were like the girdles but served both functional and decorative purposes. And ultimately, the “handbag” arrived in the 19th century. English writers used it as a symbol of freedom and independence of the womenfolk. This was mostly because chatelaines and other forms of the handbag were usually worn inside the privacy of the home, while the handbag was openly worn by women in the public. Thus, the idea that women and their belongings needed to be ‘concealed’ from the world, was stomped by handbags.

And then the modern handbags of the 20th century took it a step further by introducing women’s handbags with straps (like briefcases), signifying female participation in the workplace. And of course, handbags slowly but surely progressed more towards the fashionable side as well, with new designs entering the market. Chanel’s quilted and gold chained handbag, Louis Vuitton’s monogrammed bucket bag, “Kelly” from Hermes, and Gucci’s bamboo handled bag were some of the most iconic handbags of the time.

Overall, the handbag’s story is filled with ups and downs (mostly ups, though). It initially started as a necessity for men but eventually gained a more fashionable significance. In fact, it is still used for both of these purposes even today. When women started wearing handbags, they would only wear them inside their houses but we’ve come a long way from those times. Women’s handbags making their way to the public eye was actually a huge development for the feminist movement of the era, and so, handbags have quite a fascinating story. And they’re still relevant because they successfully adapted to the needs of each era.

5-Minute History of the Handbag

The designer handbags that you see in storefronts did not come about just like that. There’s a long history behind their advent. But one thing is for sure, handbags were almost always considered status symbols. In ancient times, they were also somewhat secretive since they were mostly used to store coins and other monetary assets. The sporran was the first manpurse that served both decorative and utilitarian purposes for men. But soon came the 16th - century messenger bag, which was a kind of pocket, and thus, eliminated the need to carry things at all – apart from bulkier items that couldn’t fit in a pocket, of course. Chatelaine bags followed soon after and were useful for carrying not just money but also basic household items, sewing tools, jewellery, keys, etc.

The 17th and 18th centuries welcomed small bags called reticules that were labeled 'indispensable' by the English and French. And then, the Industrial Revolution eventually brought the designer bag thanks to Samuel Parkinson. But it was only the first of many, and we’ve seen how the handbag has evolved over the past few years as well. Surely, the handbag revolution isn’t over yet – and who knows what new forms the handbag will take up in the future?

What’s the Takeaway?

Handbags are both a luxury and a commodity, especially in the modern era. The history of the handbag demonstrates how the item has experienced many different changes to become what we now know as women’s handbags. We don’t know who exactly invented the handbag since it’s literally been here since forever, but we do know that many different people and populations have altered it as per their own needs. For instance, entrepreneur Samuel Parkinson kind of invented the first luggage bags to facilitate his wife whose bags were just not big enough. Overall, though, there is one key lesson to be learned from the story of the handbag, that of adaptability. The adaptable nature of the handbag has enabled it to traverse the borders of time and still stay relevant in the modern world, regardless of the thousands of fashion fads that have passed since. And we’re sure that the handbag will continue to evolve with time to accommodate the ever-changing needs of the population.