Sac History cabas

History of the tote bag

The word "cabas" means "container," then evolved into: "basket for carrying fruit" in the 14th century. It was first used by merchants, in markets, to carry goods sold in bulk. Lightweight and made from hemp or of linen, it has been adapted over the decades to correspond to everyday uses : matter, shape, size , flexibility, handles…

To trace the history of this iconic model, we must go back to the 1860s: it was at this time that five additional days of vacation were granted by Napoleon III. Industrialization having laid its foundations in the daily life of the time, it was only natural that the industry travel luggage is taking off considerably. The first leather travel bags were born… We have to wait until the beginning of the 20th century to see the large bags, such as our famous tote bags, join the daily lives of women during the sessions of shopping.

A multitude of stories revolve around the origin of the tote bag, we will remember here that of Corentin Samard, who worked on a major project in the 1930s: the "shopping bag". In 1936, the first version of our current tote bag was born! We must
also to this man the invention of the beach bag… Specializing in luggage storage, many of the inventions that have revolutionized our daily lives come from Corentin Samard. It should also be noted that he is a pioneer
in the use of coated canvas, so that its models resist the passage of time and bad weather.

In the 1960s, the tote bag was no longer just a tote bag functional, it also becomes a fashion accessory! The big luxury houses are taking over the form elegant and of the lightness of this model in order to propose one multitude of variations to satisfy as many women as possible... Tote bags have seen their use grow, notably by being adopted by large companies in the form of advertising.

The iconic tote bags

The Birkin from Hermès

How can we not mention one of the most iconic tote bags, which was born during a plane travel in the 80s ? The probability that Jane Birkin be seated next to Jean-Louis Dumas, artistic director of the Hermès house was weak, but it nevertheless revolutionized the tote bag.

Jane Birkin having accidentally spilled the contents of her handbag, begins the discussion with his neighbor by complaining that he cannot find a bag that meets his needs. Without further ado, Jean-Louis Dumas draws up the future design of the famous model Birkin, a must-have from Hermès.

Today available in several sizes and materials, it is rectangular in shape and has a central pocket in removable canvas allowing the interior to be divided in two. Note that there is even a space for baby bottles, or for bottles depending on use!