Leather Handbags

History of Leather Handbags

The very first leather bag was actually carried by men. In Greek and Roman history, a leather pouch was made from animal hide and used to carry coins. This bag was called the bursa by the Romans, which was translated into modern vocabulary as the purse. It wasn’t until the 1880s when a woman’s leather handbag officially surfaced. At that time, sturdy leather luggage was the craze while more people began to travel by train. Luggage designers created a smaller bag intended as a small carry-on for a woman. Including a handle, it was the first prototype of our now standard leather handbag.

Leather handbags have transitioned greatly over the years. After WWI, there were severe leather shortages which changed the look of many bags. In some ways it made them more creative as the manufactures found new materials to incorporate into the basic leather purse.

Leather purses were actually more common 100 years ago then they are today. With the introduction of microfiber products into the handbag market, leather is quickly being replaced. Microfiber is easy to clean, lightweight, durable and has the same glamorous versatility of leather. It is also non-offending to the animal rights activists and vegan consumers.

General Information

Leather handbags are a vast category of bags for women and men. Leather can be used to create the entire bag or only some of the parts: exterior, lining, frame, handle or fringe attachments. Leather is delicate enough for evening looks, yet sturdy enough for an overflowing daytime bag. Some bags can even easily transition between the two. There are very few rules in regards to leather handbags.

Although most bags designed entirely from leather are rather heavy, the leather itself can be soft or stiff. It can also be transformed into a variety of textures including:

• Suede
• Embossed
• Patent
• Bordered
• Imprinted

Leather is traditionally taken from a cow, but it can also be hide from other animals. The color options are almost limitless, with the most common staying within the natural leather color pallet:

• Natural Browns
• Blacks
• Blondes

Care Tips

Leather handbags do need some basic maintenance and care. Due to the durability of a good quality leather, designer bags have been known to last into many generations if well preserved.

If you own a leather handbag, keep the following tips in mind:

• Never store in a sealed plastic bag, use cloth instead.
• Hang your leather purse form a hook to maintain its best shape.
• Fix small tears or seam splits with rubber cement.
• If caught in a sudden rainstorm, empty your bag and air dry completely.
• Clean smooth leathers regularly with a damp cloth or specialized leather cleaner.
• Brush the rough leathers to clean and freshen.
• If your leather handbag becomes severely soiled or damaged, take to a professional leather specialist.