Have you ever wondered the history of handbag? From the ancient girdle pouches fastened to waist in Egypt to shoulder bags of the modern lady of fashion, handbags have historically been both the carriers of valuable things and the signifiers of power, status, and beauty. With the development of the society, influence of the culture, and innovation of science and technology, handbags has changed much in its use, style, material etc. In the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, people would attach the most tiffany and co typical things to their waists: girdles. Pockets didn't come into use until several hundred years later. People then usually put Book of Hour, even daggers etc. into their girdles. Embroidery and jewels adorned girdles were used to show status. Generally speaking, the richer one person is, the more adornment is on this girdle. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, people found that things in girdles easily got lost because of a large amount of fabrics. Therefore, women began to put their pouches under their skirts, and men would wear pockets. As for the material of handbag, people adopted everyday materials such as leather with a drawstring fastener on top. Girls also were taught that needlecraft of handbag was a necessary skill for a good girl. Gradually, handbags were not only for the practical function but were also often used as obvious decorative holders for gifts, such as money, perfume, or jewels. And the style of the handbags also became increasingly sophisticated, from a simple drawstring design to complicated shapes.

In the eighteenth century, with the great change in clothing fashion, people were fond of wearing slender and narrow dress, which could better show their curves. So there was not much room beneath for the pockets. Reticules in the open took the place of pockets beneath clothes. With the development of science and technology in the nineteenth century, varieties of styles and fabrics could match the rest of women's outfits. Women still used purses and spent much time on them to show off for potential husbands. However, with the advent of the railroad, more people traveled by train and women also moved a lot. Soon the term "handbag" came into use in the early 1900's and mainly referred to hand-held luggage bags. Indeed, many of the top names of today's handbags got their start as luggage makersIn the twentieth century, many kinds of handbags came into being. During 1900-1920s swinging pochette, fitted leather bags with attached telescopic opera glasses and folding fans, and purses reflecting exotic motifs were fashionable. In the 930s bag mainly reflected art decoration style, and many of bags used today had been invented. In the 1940s, handbags took a relatively military look because the influence of the Second World War. The shoulder bags which were larger, squarer, more practical compared to pochette, stepped onto the stage. In the 1950s, the boom of economy after war, a very small bag implied beauty and sophistication; reflected femininity of women became the favorite. Larger satchels and fabric shoulder bags began to be popular due to the influence of youth culture during 1960s to 1970s received great popularity. Owing to the conspicuous consumption in 1980s-1990s, fitness sports shoes influenced high fashion and unisex shoes began to be popular. People in the twenty first century have more choices than ever before. There are all kinds of bags, such as hobo bags, tote bags, shoulder bags, handle bags, cross body handbags, evening bags, backpacks, clutches & purses, laptop bags, messenger bags, wallets, waist bags, shopping bags, cosmetic bags. And they are made of various materials, from leather, plastics to vinyl and polyurethane.