What is a Handbag?

A bag or pouch of leather, fabric, plastic or other material carried by hand with a handle or strap. A handbag may contain several compartments and pockets to hold items such as money, toilet articles, keys, a mobile phone and makeup. It may be a simple, utilitarian bag or a sophisticated fashion accessory.

The advent of industrialization in the nineteenth century and the onset of the women’s rights movement helped to boost the demand for handbags. With the advent of needlepoint, embroidery and appliqué techniques, the leather, trunk and apparel accessories industries were able to produce and distribute these bags in increasing numbers as a women’s accessory.

Today, women carry a large range of handbags for all occasions and activities. In the past, it was common for women to purchase a neutral color such as blue, black or tan to coordinate with a variety of outfits, but now women tend to select a purse that expresses their personality. Many manufacturers are introducing features such as interior lighting, specifically designed storage for iPods and personal digital assistants, and biometric technology that allows a woman to open her purse by scanning her thumb or eye.

The emergence of luxury brands that specialize in the manufacture of high quality, fashion forward handbags has also helped to spur growth in this industry. These designer brands often employ artisans who spend dozens of hours crafting a single purse and have a rigorous quality control process that rivals ultra-costly, high fashion houses such as Hermes.