The History of Handbags
The first documented use of handbags
is from fourteenth century hieroglyphics, showing men carrying little
pouches around their waists called girdles for carrying flint.
However by the 1400s women as well as men were wearing handbags
adorned with jewelry or embroidery to reflect their wealth and these
objects became a status symbol, depicted in portraits of affluent and
influential people proudly sporting their handbags fastened to their
outfits with tasseled
strings.
By the early seventeenth century men and women's handbags had
virtually disappeared and were replaced by pockets under their
clothes, but by the close of the eighteenth century puffed
skirts were out of fashion for women and close fitting designer
dresses became the in thing. Leather and embroidered handbags
became popular as handbags started to complement their clothes and
women had different handbags for different occasions. Perfume,
smelling salts, fans and visiting cards were carried in women's
handbags and these handbags were called reticules.
It was not until the 1900s that the term handbag first emerged, to
describe satchels and
briefcases carried by men. However designers of women's handbags made
similar versions to suit feminine needs including tiny compartments
for fans, gloves, opera glasses and makeup.
The years after the First World War witnessed the physical freedom of
women and a more independent attitude to women emerge and this is
when handbags really became indispensable accessories. Handbags
really came into their own, with different materials including mother
of pearl and bolder colours being used and the discovery of
Tutankhamun tomb was also reflected in handbags
and purses of the time.
The outbreak of the Second World War meant a shortage of leather and
metal for frames and zips, so handbag manufacturers started using
wood and plastic instead. The 1930s and 1940s also saw the
development of the clutch bag which are still very popular today and
websites such as Sndgems offer a wide range of designer
clutch bags in various different designs and colours to suit all tastes.
It was not however until the 1950s that fashion houses developed
producing designer handbags and in the 1960s reptile skin and silk
handbags came into fashion. Again silk handbags are still very much
in vogue as occasional bags and Sndgems.com stocks a large selection
of stunning silk embroidered handbags.
Today the majority of leather handbags imported into the USA come
from Italy, which is where SNDGEMS.COM sources its leather
handbags from and we have recently seen a trend for handbags
made from wool and tweed, such as many of Sndgems.com stylish winter
handbags, like the Autumn Rose, the Poppins and the Patchwork
winter handbag.
Improvements in manufacturing processes have also meant that designer
handbags can now be produced much cheaper, allowing people to
buy beautiful handbags at affordable prices and this has long been
the ethos of Sndgems website which sells a huge range of stunning designer
handbags, clutch
bags, silk handbags, designer
purses and designer jewelry
wraps at very reasonable prices to suit all pockets, styles and tastes. |
