Even if you're not someone who follows fashion, it would be hard not to notice how the trends that have been emerging these past few fashion cycles have been heavily influenced by the styles of the 60s and 70s. Flare leg jeans, high-waisted trousers, and bell-sleeved tunics can all be spotted in the stores at this very moment in time. It seems like a natural progression that the handbag industry would follow suit; tassels, cross-body bags, and bucket bags have all been spotted in stores and online, and fashionistas the world over are once again enjoying these familiar bag shapes. But just how did some of these particular bags gain popularity in the first place? The answer, as with so many things in life, lies in the history books.

60s & 70s - Handbag Fashion

In the 60s, for the first time, there was a surge of youth culture, and an overall societal relaxation of what was thought of as “appropriate” dressing, largely owed to the efforts of the women's movement. As a result, the more structured handbag styles of the conservative 1950s (think: frame bags) fell by the wayside, and designs like small cross-body shoulder bags (that looked great with the miniskirts of the time) came into vogue for their upbeat, youthful vibe.

Bringing Back Fashion - Tote

With more young people travelling the world, as the decade moved towards the 70s, there was an increase in popularity of larger totes, satchels, and fabric bags. Patchwork, fringe, and other types of detailing also became popular, and it very succinctly captured the romance of travel and a new embracing of ethnic design and individual expression.