This Article is a brief history of the evolution of designer shoulder bags.
Purses have been around since Biblical times. There are ancient hieroglyphics that depict men with leather pouches around their waist. Although the term “handbag” did not exist until the mid nineteenth century, purses of antiquity were used mainly by men to carry coins or valuables. The bible itself identifies Judas Iscariot as the lone apostle who carried a money bag. The popularity of Shoulder bags for women really began in the early twentieth century. World War II brought a meteoric rise in the use of these bags. Shoulder handbags came back into style in the 1970s and have been going strong ever since.
The genesis of the modern handbag really begins with the arrival of trains in the nineteenth century. The trains heralded the arrival of a new type of carrying bag, the handbag. It is during this time-frame that Hermes bags and Louis Vuitton were founded. Louis Vuitton was a luggage packer while Thierry Hermes was a harness and saddle maker. Both men were visionaries who created quality products to fill a market niches in a changing society. By the time the twentieth century rolled along, handbags had become much more than hand-held luggage. Women had choices between dotty bags (small satchel-like bags), beaded bags (the 1920′s Art Deco movement incorporated geometric shapes and strong colors) and jeweled bags. The 1920s marked the introduction of colors and patterns to handbags. Ancient Egyptian and exotic county (India and China mostly) representations were very popular. During this time, shoulder bags were not yet in the mainstream. But they did get their start during this period. Leather shoulder bags were used by couriers, mostly in the military. The practicality of the leather shoulder bag led to expanded use in World War II.
With more women in the workplace, women’s shoulder bags came into their own during World War II. After the war, there popularity dwindled a bit until their resurgence in the 1970’s. This resurgence of shoulder handbags was led by Gucci. Gucci’s Jackie O shoulder bag, made famous by Jackie Kennedy, became an icon of the times. The 1980s saw the introduction of quilted leather style shoulder designer handbags. Today the designer shoulder bag has morphed into a number of product lines including: hobos, totes and slings. Although multiple colors and styles are selling well, the black shoulder bag has become one of the most popular, with designer brands Fendi and Prada leading the way.
Designer shoulder bags have come a long way from the handbags used for train travel in the nineteenth century. These designer handbags are the perfect example of function and fashion coming together to provide fashion conscious women great looking solutions. They’ve provided us with the designer names that we’re all familiar with today; Hermes Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi, Prada and more. The only thing left to ask is: What’s next?