25 Types of Handbags — Do You Know Them All?

There are several dozen types of bags, many of them are united by a history of origin or material. One and the same model can be called in different ways, which causes confusion. We have collected for you the main types of bags, many of which are on Bag Shop Co. Did not find the form you wanted to know about? Write to us at info@bagshopco.com, we will add your model to the review.

TOTE

Tote (tote bag) — a rectangular-shaped bag with two handles for carrying in hands or on a shoulder.

The name comes from the word tote — carry. The first tote introduced the American brand LL Bean in 1944, it was called Bean’s Ice Carrier and was a large bag made of canvas for carrying ice from the car to the refrigerator. Bags were useful not only outside the city: in the 50s, many American women went shopping with a tote.

The first fashion version of the practical touch appeared in 1962 when designer Bonnie Kashin presented her collection of leather bags, Cashin Carry Tote. In 1984, Hermes created their own luxury version of the tote — the trapezoidal model Birkin in honor of actress Jane Birkin.

SHOPPER

A shopper (or shopper) is a large rectangular-shaped bag, soft, with two handles to be worn on the shoulder or in the hand.

Shopper translates as a “shopping bag.” With its shape, it most often resembles a bag with long convenient handles. It can be carried in hands or worn on the shoulder. Shoppers are made of different materials: canvas, leather, etc. The shopper often has no fasteners, the top is open, the handles diverge freely to the sides so that purchases can be quickly put inside and not be afraid that something will not fit.

HOBO

Hobo is a soft-shaped bag with a semicircular neckline or soft fold. It has one integral handle for carrying on the shoulder.

Literally, a hobo bag translates as a “tramp bag”. The name appeared due to the similarity of the shape of the bag with the bag in which the poor carried their things, tied and hung on a stick. Today, the bag model is found in luxury brands, and for a long time, it has not been like a wanderer bag.

Hobos are sewn of soft smooth leather and suede, so they change shape depending on the contents of the bag. The hobo form is often used to create ethnic-style images.

MESSENGER

The messenger bag is a medium-sized model worn on a long belt on the shoulder or as a crossbody. Initially, the messenger was closed by a valve, now it can be with or without it.

The ancestors of the messenger — mochila bags made of pieces of leather with a woven belt — were worn by Colombian Indians, in the 18th-century postmen and couriers began to use similar models for work. In the 1950s, De Martini began manufacturing durable canvas bags for electricians and fitters in New York; it was convenient to put heavy tools necessary for work in these bags. Ten years later, multicolored messengers began to be distributed to bicycle couriers: the color of the bag denoted the area of ​​work.

The designer who made the bag popularly was John Peters. He created a messenger made of nylon — water-repellent fabric and plastic buckles. New materials made the bag easier and more beautiful and coupled with a stylish updated design, it became interesting for all residents of the city, and not just for workers.

SATCHEL

Satchel bag (satchel bag) — originally a universal medium-sized bag for carrying books. The rigid form (structured), made of leather, closes with a valve and is worn over the shoulder. Today, a wider range of models applies to satchels.

Something similar to the satchels was still worn by the Roman legionnaires. These products were called loculus (a loculus) — literally translated as “little space.” In these small flat packs, soldiers carried rations and personal items. In the middle of the 20th century, British schoolchildren and students wore textbooks in their sets. Well, and maybe lunch instead of rations.

SADDLE

Saddlebag — a shoulder bag with a rounded bottom. Initially, it was a small bag with a valve cover, which the riders attached to the saddle. The model came into fashion thanks to John Galliano, who made her fashion version for Dior.

In a broad sense, now it is a small bag made of tight, skin-shaped, rounded shape with a handle of a smaller or larger size to be worn on the shoulder or as a crossbody.

BAG BAG

A bag-bag is soft, cylindrical or rectangular, pulled together by a cord, and taking shape with folds, can have a handle to be worn on the shoulder or over the shoulder.

Coins were piled into the first pouches, these bags were made of pieces of fabric or leather, tightened with lace. In a large format, bag-bags were used for things, simply tying them into a knot on the shoulder.

Bag bags have several varieties that can be similar to each other until indistinguishable. Sometimes one of the names is used as a synonym, calling them all bag-bags:

POUCH

A pouch is a small bag-shaped bag that is pulled by a drawstring. The name is familiar to us from the pouches in which they wore tobacco, embroidering them, and attaching them to the belt. Only a pouch differs from a bag-bag except in size: it is small.

Coins were piled into the first pouches, these bags were made of pieces of fabric or leather, tightened with lace. In a large format, bag-bags were used for things, simply tying them into a knot on the shoulder.

Torba, bag-bucket, bag, and pouch — models that have common features. Sometimes they are so similar that they can be attributed to any of the listed species.

BUCKET BAG

A bucket bag of cylindrical shape with a short handle and sometimes with a long strap for carrying on the shoulder. The bottom of the bag is hard and has the shape of a circle or oval. The diameter of the bag on top can be wider if it mimics the shape of an expanding bucket.

The bag holds its shape, stands well on the surface, does not wrinkle, and does not sag, even if it is not full. The bucket bag can be fastened on top or can be opened, it can have an inner cover that is pulled by a cord and hides all the contents.

Torba, bag-bucket, bag, and pouch — models that have common features. Sometimes they are so similar that they can be attributed to any of the listed species.

TORBA

Bag with a cylindrical shape with a round bottom. The handle is short for carrying in hands, it can have a long shoulder strap. Bag-bag from the bucket can be distinguished in a straight cylindrical shape.

The shape appeared thanks to the canvas sacks, which played a practical role: they were filled with oats and attached to the horse’s head. Wine bags, in which it was convenient to put bottles, are also considered the version of the origin of the form. Once, one of Louis Vuitton’s clients asked the designer to make a comfortable and stylish champagne bag for him, and in 1932, Noe, the first fashion model of the sack, was presented at Louis Vuitton.

Torba, bag-bucket, bag, and pouch — models that have common features. Sometimes they are so similar that they can be attributed to any of the listed species.

CLUTCH BAG

Clutches (pochette, clutch) — a small or medium bag without a handle, with a long belt or chain to be worn on the shoulder.

The name of the clutch comes from the English clutch — “grab.” The clutch goes all its history from the same bags for money, in which later the ladies began to wear cosmetics, a pocket mirror, combs, and other little things. In the 18th century, a small handbag — a reticule — was an obligatory subject of evening wardrobe, a kind of female dress code for events. The match appeared a long chain for practical reasons: by hanging the bag on his shoulder, one could free his hands for convenient movement around the city during the day and for a glass of champagne in the evening. Clutches came into modern fashion thanks to Dior and Chanel: bags were part of the new look and Coco Chanel outfits.

Clutch Envelope (envelope) — a model in which the valve-cover has the shape of a triangle. When the clutch is closed, it resembles a sealed envelope.

Minodyere (minaudière) — a frame clutch, hard, holding the shape. It may resemble a flat box, cube, or ball, often fastens with a latch.

A folding clutch is a soft model that can be folded. As a rule, at the bend on the sides of the clutch, a belt or chain is fastened to be worn on the shoulder. The clutch can also be worn when unfolded, like a bag.

A clutch with a frame (frame clutch) is a soft-shaped model mounted on a rigid frame. This model resembles a soft wallet for little things; it has been popular over the centuries as a casual or evening bag. Small or medium-sized clutches can be made of leather or fabric (velvet, silk, brocade) and embroidered with threads or stones.

HAT BOX

A bag that came about thanks to hat boxes. Unlike a real box, in which hats were stored in a horizontal position, the bag is placed on an edge, on which there are often legs or a flat platform for stability. On the edge of such a bag, there may be a short handle, sometimes also a long strap or chain to be worn on the shoulder. It can be fastened with a zipper along with one of the walls, around the circumference, and it can have a latch or a magnet fastener. Today, hat boxes include all-round bags.

BOX BAG

A bag in the shape of a box with a handle (box bag) appeared in the 1950s. Reminiscent of a box with a clasp at the top, can be an elegant day or a glamorous evening. The first model was created from lucite — transparent plastic, the license for which at that moment was from DuPont.

Box bags today can be found on the catwalk and in everyday life. As a rule, these are bags of a small format, so that they are convenient to carry in your hands. Tiny options can be called moodier, a type of clutch.

CHINESE BOX

A bag of this shape imitates a takeout box in which Chinese noodles are usually sold. The box has the shape of a cube, it is small in size and holds its shape. It differs from a bag-box by a specific cover, made by analogy with cardboard in the origami technique: four petals are closed alternately, clinging one after another.

Due to its exoticism and recognition, it is well-supported by the Asian theme. It can be with a short handle or on a long chain strap.

BASKET

Bag-basket — wicker model for everyday use. A large basket with a lid appeared thanks to a fishing basket made of twigs (fishing creel), in which the catch was traditionally worn. Such a basket has a lid and a long shoulder strap.

For the first time in fashion history, the basket was borrowed by Jane Birkin in the 70s. She found a wicker basket in the fishing market and made her favorite everyday bag.

Modern models have different shapes and sizes; they can be made of twigs, straws, Jute, and even paper. Large baskets with a lid are called picnic baskets, and today they are used for their intended purpose.

STRING BAG

It can be called a bag-net (fishnet bag, net bag) or string bag, the essence does not change. The ancestor of the string bag was fishing nets, which were woven manually. The grid is familiar to us from the Soviet times, and if you did not find them, then from films about the Soviet past. In 2017, net bags appeared on Instagram blogger accounts as a fashion accessory.

Shopping bags regained popularity in the wake of the environmental movement. They can be used as an alternative to shopping bags, as well as a replacement for genuine leather bags. The traditional weaving of the mesh is large, it will not hold small things, therefore, in a daily format, the leather or fabric cover complements the mesh. A string bag can also be used as a fashionable addition to a regular bag: put your favorite clutch bag inside the net and carry it on your shoulder.

BACKPACK

Backpack — a bag on one or two straps for carrying things behind your back (backpack). Almost always, backpacks have a short handle, which is convenient to use to carry the backpack in your hands.

A leather bag on a wooden frame that was worn on the back was used in antiquity. People living in the mountains, nomads, are all those who needed to carry many things on themselves over long distances.

In the modern world, relatives of backpacks are military duffel bags and army satchels. Simple canvas backpacks, often home-made, were used by ordinary people and travelers. With the advent of nylon, backpacks have become much lighter without losing strength.

Today, backpacks can be specialized (for sports and travel), school, for every day. The name “urban backpack” is found, which means a small leather model of a laconic design that can be worn in the city, replacing her usual bag.

SLING BAG

A sling bag resembles a backpack but has only one shoulder strap. A sling bag can also be a bag with a long cord or strap that is worn over the shoulder on the chest or back.

Slings are also called scarves or fabric devices for carrying children on the chest or back. Many peoples have similar ways of carrying children, and they are still common in some African tribes.

WEEKEND BAG

Model weekend (weekend bag) — a roomy, but more compact analog of a suitcase. It can be called a regular travel bag, the difference in design. The bag is made of durable textile or leather, trimmed with genuine leather elements, has two soft short handles, a comfortable shoulder strap, and sometimes a stylish name tag. By style, the weekend belongs to casual, it has few sporting elements, because it is often taken as carry-on baggage on business trips.

This bag is not bulky, but large enough to accommodate everything you need for a weekend break. The functions of the “weekend model” can be taken over by a duffle bag — the same size and the same convenience in a slightly rounded shape.

SPORTS BAG

A soft cylindrical duffle bag is used as a sport or casual bag for short trips.

The bag was named after the Belgian city of Duffel, wherein the 15th century they began to produce the durable fabric. The sailors used the fabric for its intended purpose — patched sails and later began to make things from it to protect their belongings from water. The weaving of the threads was so strong that the fabric did not let moisture pass for a long time.

During the First and Second World Wars, soldiers used duffel bags to store and carry their belongings. In peacetime, duffle bags turned into travel and sports models. In shape, they resemble a horizontal cylinder, often soft, with two wide strap handles to carry a bag on his shoulder. Duffle can be sewn from durable canvas or modern artificial fabrics that make the bag light.

DIPLOMAT

A formal model whose name says a lot about its origin and purpose. The diplomat carries documents and folders that should be intact and in perfect order. The diplomat has a rigid form and short handles snap into place. Inside the diplomat is a well-organized space with holders for pens, business cards, folders, and other important work items.

DOME BAG

The dome bag has a flat bottom and shape-holding walls. The model is zipped on top so that the walls form a dome. The bag has two short handles for carrying in hands or on a forearm. Depending on the shape of the sidewalls, the bag can be with a semicircular or vaulted dome.

A cylindrical model with round sidewalls is sometimes called a bowling bag. Functional defined its shape: they carried bowling balls in a bag.

BAG

Bag (from the French sac de voyage -. “Bag for travel”) — travel bag medium or large in size with a short handle, has a strong clasp. The first bags appeared in America in the 1840s, then they were sewn from old carpets: the material was cheap and durable. With the opening of the railroads, travel became available to many, so inexpensive bags quickly became popular.

When the bags began to be made of leather, not textiles, their price increased. Wealthy people began to carry the bag, including doctors and lawyers.

TRAVEL BAG

A travel case (train case) is often used for professional needs. Hairdressers, make-up artists, stylists carry their equipment in it, musicians in large cases. Most often on wheels, but can also be portable.

Plastic or light metal protects the contents better, organized space with folding and drawers is created inside.

Originally published at https://bagshopco.com on June 10, 2020.