Evolution of School Bags
- The Mary Word
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
By Ainsley Benbow
For centuries, the school bag has been a constant companion for students. Although its form varies across societies, eras and nations, the central purpose and design has remained the same; to provide a practical and more protective way to carry school essentials such as books, pens or in recent years, laptops, especially as technology and education continue to evolve.
1700s-1800s
In the earliest years of formal schooling, children often carried their books and slates in cloth bundles fastened with string. However, wealthier families sometimes used simple leather satchels which offered greater durability, but these were not accessible nor affordable for most people, making the common form of transport plain but still practical to hold every time on the walk to school.
1900s-1930s
The rise of the leather satchel occurred by the early 20th century, with their boxy structure offering students to fit notebooks and ink bottles easily. These satchels were often equipped with buckled straps for over the shoulder and hand-held varieties. They were made with long lasting materials which frequently passed through siblings and generations.
1930s-1940s
Small hard-sided suitcases began to appear in schools even before the 1940s; however became especially common during this time and post events such as the Great Depression and wartime. Through the shortages of leather, the need for a durable container made hand-held suitcases a more practical option to use which children often carried their books in.
1950s-1970s
Post-war manufacturing led to cheaper, lighter materials such as canvas and nylon which were made into satchels. These were cheaper and less rigid compared to the ordinary leather used for bags. By the late 1960-1970s, the first school backpacks were introduced by Gerry Outdoors, who drew upon mountaineering gear styles which then acted as an essential tool for everyday school use. This shift set the stage for a major transformation in how students carried their belongings to school, still seen today.
1980s-1990s
By the 1980s, backpacks had replaced satchels almost entirely, becoming easier, lighter and multicompartmental to store all school supplies including the growing load of heavy textbooks. Brands like Adidas and Nike transformed this into a new addition to outfits, offering fashionable options, acting as a tool for transport, academia and personal identity.
2000s-2010s
The decade of a new millennium saw a huge rise in bright colours and Smiggle! As seen in all our favourite movies, there were lots of new varieties of bags with neon colours, glittery finishes, tonnes of zippers, matching stationery and much more. School bags became not only containers, but a way to finish your look, expressing personality, the most up-to-date trends and even favourite movies.
2010s-Today
As we move further into the 21st century, the integration of technology and minimalism has greatly increased. Tote bags and backpacks now often come with built-in laptop sleeves and hidden compartments, perfect for school and also everyday life. With textbooks being replaced with tablets and digital devices, bags have become lighter, and more savvy, therefore being more comfortable without the burden of carrying heavy bags, weighing down shoulders in the hallways and transport to school. In terms of visual design, students use a variety of different bags, at most schools, school-issued backpacks, but at others or even bags used for personal use like bringing work to the library, plain everyday backpacks are used.
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