The origin of handbags is quite ancientHandbags in some form or another have been in use for as long as people have needed to carry items of value around with themBags, or pouches for carrying money or other precious objects can be seen in paintings from ancient Egypt, so the use of handbags is not a modern phenomenon, but in more recent times some of the most frequently recorded uses of girdle pouches (which would later develop into handbags) are from the 14th century, where both men and women would attach a cloth or leather pouch to the belt (or girdle) they habitually wore around their waists, to enable them to carry small items securely.

These pouches were necessary because the clothing of the time did not have any pocketsTypically, the pouches used by women were more ornate than those used by the men, which is also the case today Here is a painting from the 1500's showing a woman with a girdle pouch..