Fashion handbags are often thought of as women’s accessories, but high-end bags are now gaining tracton among men and women alike as part of an industry employing over 77,000 people in the United States alone. But how much do you really know about this trend? Whether you’ve been using the same old satchel for a decade or you’re always on top of the newest handbag designs, here are five things you probably didn’t know about handbags:
- Purses Are a Traditional Gift
Good news: Purses and pouches have been given as gifts since the 1400s, when they were common presents for brides and grooms. These purses were often used for carrying seeds, religious items and medicine.
- Historically, Purses Were for Men
Men who want to carry a well-designed bag needn’t be self-conscious. Hieroglyphs from ancient Egypt show men wearing waist purses, and traditionally African priests carried bags embellished with beads.
- The Term “Handbag” Was Created by the Railroad
As women began to travel by train more frequently, they required leather bags that could be carried by hand, as opposed to heavy trunks. This connection between handbags and railways should be particularly amusing to fans of Oscar Wilde’s The Importance of Being Earnest, whose protagonist is famously abandoned in a large black handbag at Victoria Station.
- The Average Weight of an American Woman’s Handbag Is…
…an astonishing 3 pounds. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising though, as handbags are rapidly crossing over into professional life, merging functions with briefcases and laptop bags.
- Louis Vuitton Grew to Stardom Working for Napoleon III’s Wife
Louis Vuitton is now known for being the manufacturer of some of the most luxurious luggage and handbag designs on the planet. But do you know how this brand came to be? Vuitton himself was actually born into a working-class family, moved to Paris in 1835 and took an apprenticeship as a box-maker and packer. It wasn’t until he was hired by Eugenie de Montijo, the wife of Napoleon III (the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte), that he gained access to wealthy, aristocratic clients.
How do you grow your collection of handbag and purse designs without going broke? Do you always opt for designer handbag options? Would you recommend any particular wholesale bags supplier? Share your shopping secrets in the comments.
Good references here: www.savvyhandbag.com
