Earliest man (and, of course woman) produced crude but effective methods of transporting essential items to different locations. The earliest carrying cases were simple hides, gourds, large leaves or any natural substance that could hold “things” and was durable enough to last throughout the trek. The carrying utensil was originally nothing but that…. a carrying device, nothing more, nothing less. Over the millenniums, this simple object slowly became more sophisticated and eventually became, of all things, an item of fashion. When pockets were introduced into clothing, the male of the species began to carry his essentials in these pockets and, therefore, the need for a carrying utensil was much diminished unless the item to be carried was larger than could be placed into the pockets. For reasons often debated, the female wardrobe did not develop the same common sense approach to “pocket” technology. It was obviously a fashion statement but women were strongly discouraged from carrying any items in their clothing so as not to be able to conceal weapons or contraband, as this was a unique male role. Women, instead accepted the purse or carrying bag and as they chose to decorate these bags, so went the way of fashion.

Early purses or bags were made, generally, of simple cloth. Later, women began to place fancy linings into the simple cloth bags and even commenced to involve the use of draw strings in order to hold the bags closed so that certain items would not fall out. Sewn on decorations such as beads or crocheting became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and the purse became a common and essential item in each sophisticated lady’s attire. For hundreds of years the hand bag phenomenon has carried on (no pun intended) the fashion statement of women and with each passing decade, it seems a new and more baffling phenomenon bears forth a new and often more exciting design and use for the common purse.

Purses are now made from any material that can be manipulated or formed into a shape that will hold a woman’s essential items (which have also changed tremendously over the years). The different shapes and methods of pursing are evident wherever one travels and the changing styles develop yearly. The clothing fashion designers have now become involved as the purse is designed to enhance and compliment the female apparel and has been for at least six decades, if not more.

The new handbag craving is for highly priced (though hardly justifiably) and luxurious designer bags. Though the bags seem to be becoming more logical in design, the price for a simple “designer” carrying case is often upwards of $500. Some designers demand even higher prices in the $1000 - $2000 range. A custom made “designer bag” goes into the “sky’s the limit” category. Nevertheless, these highly sought after and expensive carrying bags are the rage the world over and women are flocking to acquire at least one and often starting a “collection” of designer bags.

The designer bag phenomenon is fed by the technology of instant presentation. If a film star, female politician, celebrity or popular person is seen on TV, carrying something a bit different than what is popular at the time, the demand for the product that she is using goes berserk in no time. It is a phenomenon of desire and fashion rather than one of necessity, and with the female persona, fashion rates up there very high, right next to life itself.

The bags are made from leather, plastic, pseudo-leather, cloth or even wood but what seems to make the bags most popular is the name of the designer. The designer’s moniker is what attracts many to the product and the status symbol is that of owning an originally designed purse or bag by the most popular, and often, the most expensive name designers who are often best known for their apparel designs. This is a huge boon for the designers and obviously produces for them another line of income. Many of the top designers are now placing their names on bags that women frequently fight over.

Though the high priced bags are quite popular, another trade has darkly worked its way into the game. As with anything highly popular, the “knock-off” or “fake” name brands have reared their ugly heads and have caused a world of problems for not only the manufacturers of designer bags, but with the customers as well. So many are so anxious to own an original that they often wind up purchasing fakes that look very much like the originals and even carry a fake high price.

Though the common purse has evolved to the top of the food chain in apparel, the buyer should beware of fake products that could cost them excessively while the real value of the item, because of its non-authentic origin, is much less. The buying public should not be taken in simply by claims of authenticity. Know and understand the proper methods of identifying and purchasing a true designer purse, if this is your desire and passion. Even though the prices for these very popular items are excessive, the popularity continues to grow. If the current mania for designer bags continues, the common but essential implement carrying utensil will become a highly priced object d’art and out of reach for the common working girl in the near future.