Carry or not to carry: The history of men’s bags.

Recently I’ve notice the chatter about men’s bags aka “murses” and all the fuss about these things so I queried the internet about the how this may have all started… with the SADDLEBAGS or DAYPACKS.

Origins: Saddlebags were historically used in military contexts for dispatch riders to carry documents securely².
Types: There are different types of saddlebags, including pommel bags, paired saddlebags, cantle bags, and single small saddlebags ⁴.
Significance: Men’s saddlebags have held significant items throughout history, from handkerchiefs to knives

The invention of the bag dates back to prehistoric times, and its origins can be traced through archaeological evidence. While it is challenging to determine the specific individual or culture responsible for its creation, bags have played a vital role in human civilization for thousands of years (Read the full article at https://rarepursuits.com/bag/style-basics/handbag-history)

This may also be linked to the history of Men’s Pockets dated back to the 18th Century.

From Tied-On Bags to Sewn-In Pouches: A Brief History of the Rise of Men’s Pockets.

The word pocket is derived from the Old Northern French word “poque,” which meant bag. And up through the 19^th century, if you looked up “pocket” in a dictionary, you would see it defined as “a small pouch or bag attached to or inserted in a garment.”

This is because the original pockets weren’t like the sewn-in pockets we know today, but rather separate bags detached from clothing. From the 15^th until the mid-16^th century, men and women carried essential items and currency in a pouch that was typically tied around the waist or hung from a belt. As thieves and “cutpurses” became more of a problem in the 17^thcentury, people began to cut slits in their shirts, skirts, and pants, and tuck their pouches inside their clothing for safekeeping. This practice necessitated making the bags flatter and easier to reach into, so they would be more accessible and not create a significant bulge.

The names of the various things men carried in these tucked-away pouches were hyphenated with “pocket” to create a moniker that described their small size and portable nature. For example:

Pocket-handkerchief
Pocket-knife
Pocket-brandy (flask)
Pocket-pistol (Often a single-shot derringer-type gun. Also used to mean flask.)
Pocket-money
Pocket-book (While today “pocketbooks” mean lady’s handbags, a man’s pocket-book at this time was a small leather notebook-like case used for carrying papers, diary entries, notes, etc.)

As men’s garments became more form-fitting, it became harder to fit a pocket purse between clothing and body. The next obvious step then was to attach the pouches to the clothing itself, and tailors began to sew pocket bags into the seams of men’s breeches, and then into their coats. In the 18^th century, pockets were added to vests, and in the 1900s, many kinds of men’s garments began to include a wide range of pockets: inside/outside breast pocket, watch pocket, side/hip pants pocket, ticket pocket, etc. (Full article at https://www.artofmanliness.com/style/clothing/a-mans-pockets/)

To carry or not to carry a “bag” is a matter of preference or purpose. History has taught us that carrying bags for utilitarian purposes or as a statement comes down to personal choice. Unfortunately, modern culture has reduced this choice to the dismantling of one’s manhood and a question of masculinity. Many get older without doing the work to “grow up” and resist immature and childish chatter that attempts to reduce adult men to less-of-a man because of their choice to carry a BAG! There is a practical and utilitarian purpose that has been flipped on its head by high fashion. Besides, any man should be able to carry any bag, pocketbook, or murse of his choosing.

Don’t be so fragile, gents. Be comfortable rocking your fitteds, Jordans, or Wallabees, respectively, accessorized by an oversized monogrammed tote as a creative expression of your style to transport your Anker phone charger, Apple Headphones, Bond No. (Wall Street) atomizer, Anthony face wipes, and YETI lunch box.