The History of Basket Bags

Baskets, of course, have been around for centuries and have been found in all sorts of cultures all over the world. The ancient Egyptians were often credited with the first baskets, but weaving materials such as straw and sea grass into functional objects has been found in civilizations all over the globe in our ancient history from China to Ghana to the native tribes all across Africa the Americas.

According to Dannijo.com, baskets did not become a sought after fashion accessory until the 1950s. They made a fashion come back in the late sixties and early 70s because actress, singer and model Jane Birkin carried her round basket bag with her absolutely everywhere. The “Birkin basket” bag became an accessory long before a purse was named after her.

I don’t know where my own obsession with baskets came from; it could have been from the many picnics I took in our backyard and at the lake as a kid or maybe it was my childhood tea set that came in a little woven basket that has forever molded my love for baskets. I do remember watching The Sound of Music and wishing I could go on a mountainside picnic with Maria and the children, who carried their baskets with them for the journey to the loveliest picnic spot. I love the texture of woven materials. Since childhood I have carried baskets with me everywhere. Several years ago I bought my first French market basket for day trips, picnics, and visits to the market. I started carrying around a little basket as a purse and received many odd looks for it, until the trend made it big again a couple years ago with the introduction of the Bali bag, a round woven basket bag made in Bali. Travel bloggers and fashion bloggers all over the world made the Bali bag the absolute it bag.

Using baskets as a purse was a sign of luxury in the 1950s because only well-travelled people had baskets for leisure activities and trips to the beach. Today they’re also a bit of a luxury item because the handmade nature of creating a basket bag is skilled and time consuming, making baskets a little expensive, but much more affordable than your typical designer bag. I love that Jane Birkin made carrying a basket popular in fashion simply because she loved baskets too. The fun part of the story is that she only used the same couple basket bags at all times. It was economical and better for the environment before people were ever worried about global warming. She made outfit (or should I say basket?) repeating ultra cool.

And there you have it, the history of the basket bag.

Do you love baskets? Tell me about your favorite basket bag in the comments below.