Anita Kajembe
JF-Expert Member
- Jun 29, 2021
- 215
- 485
Today’s designer handbags have a long and storied history.
Early Europeans used handbags just as we do today—to store personal belongings needed for the day. Clothing had no pockets until the 17th century, so men also carried handbags for things like coins, alms, and relics.
Worn attached to a belt, this 16th-century buckle bag had 18 secret compartments. For the aristocratic gentleman, it was a status symbol.
The First Man-Purse?
The sporran played a similar role in the highlands of Scotland—part utilitarian, part symbol of wealth and status.
A 16th-Century Messenger Bag?
As pockets became an integral part of clothing during the 17th century, men no longer needed to carry handbags for anything other than the bulkiest of items—books, documents, and letters
The Dawn of the Designer Handbag
The Industrial Revolution brought steam railways and travel became increasingly popular.In 1841, Yorkshire entrepreneur Samuel Parkinson, whose Butterscotch confectionary was appointed to the British royal household, wanted to treat his wife to a custom-made set of hand luggage.
He had noticed that her purse was too small and not made of a sturdy enough material for traveling. So he had leather handbags made for her in varying size for different occasions.
