"My greatest concern is that when I die, my husband would sell all of my bags for the price I told him they were worth." To comprehend the origins of National Handbag Day, we must first investigate the history of the handbag. Early modern Europeans used purses only for the purpose of transporting currency. They were made of leather or soft cloth, and men wore them equally as often as ladies.
During the 17th century, young girls were taught how to embroider garments. This was seen as a necessary talent for marriage. Not only that, but it assisted them in creating incredibly exquisite purses. The late 18th century saw a shift in European fashion. They preferred bags with a more thin form. They were inspired by the outlines of Classical Rome and Greece. Ladies desired purses that were not messy or cumbersome in appearance. As a result, reticules were created.
Reticules is a name used to describe purses with wrist straps that were constructed of rich fabrics such as velvet and silk. First and foremost, they were extremely popular in France. Their popularity quickly expanded to the United Kingdom, where they were seen as necessary. Men, on the other hand, did not follow the trend. Instead, they employed pockets, which had begun to become fashionable in men's pants, as well as purses. The contemporary handbag, pouch, clutch, or purse flourished in the United Kingdom throughout the Industrial Revolution. This was ascribed in part to an increase in train traffic.
Samuel Parkinson, a Doncaster confectionery manufacturer and industrialist, purchased a variety of purses for his wife. He found his wife's handbag was too tiny for all he needed when travelling and purchasing trunks and cases. Furthermore, the material from which it was made would not have lasted the voyage. As a result, he decided to acquire multiple bags in varying sizes for his wife for various occasions. He requested that the bags be made out of the same leather as his trunks and briefcase. As H. J. Cave of London followed Samuel's directions, the first set of luxury purses were manufactured. These are the kinds of bags you'd recognise now!
However, as you might think, it was not all easy sailing for H. J. Cave. Although he continued to design and market these purses, many critics believed they were unneeded. Some detractors even claimed that the bags' hefty weight and girth would break women's backs. As a result, H. J. Cave stopped advertising the bags after 1865. It was not until 2010 that the brand began handbag manufacture.
