Whether as a practical tool or a luxury item, bags have become an indispensable part of our daily lives. The exhibition at the Deutsches Ledermuseum in Offenbach offers an interesting range of bags with over 200 exhibits.
Few objects are as adaptable in design or as versatile in use as the bag. There are virtually no limits to its shape, volume or materials – and it is ingrained in our everyday lives. No other object is so essential when we leave the house, carrying everything we need or buy on the go. Bags are practical transporters, personal companions, objects of desire and status symbols. As a result, they come in countless versions and styles for a wide range of occasions – be it shopping, work, sport, travel or a night out.
The Deutsches Ledermuseum (German Leather Museum) in Offenbach am Main explores the rich cultural history of this globally used object, fashion item and luxury good in a multi-faceted exhibition entitled ‘always at hand: THE BAG’, open until 10 August 2025. More than 200 exhibits spanning three millennia will be on display, with a focus on the European history of the bag, complemented by insights into designer bags as status symbols and the materiality of bags and leather goods. Bags from different cultures in Africa, Asia, the Americas and the polar regions are part of this collection.
From ancient Egyptian leather pouches and medieval belt satchels (the forerunners of today’s hip bags or crossbodies) to the travelling bags that came with the invention of the railway, practical backpacks, elegant handbags and a shopping bag made of biodegradable plastic. Bags tell the story of one of mankind’s oldest and most versatile accessories, from a clasp bag with a light (a 1950s innovation) to a handmade bag in the shape of a lyre, from decorated hunting and falconry bags to an item made from the dried shell of an armadillo, complete with preserved head and limbs, from Mexico. The world of luxury bags is represented by Hermès, Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Tod’s, Jacquemus, Prada and renowned designers such as Dries Van Noten and Vivienne Westwood.
Regional pieces also highlight Offenbach’s historical importance as a world-famous leatherworking centre. Contemporary designs by designer label TSATSAS and small-batch manufacturer frischBeutel point to the current renaissance of the leather goods industry. In collaboration with the Design Faculty of Pforzheim University, which offers Germany’s only Bachelor’s degree in Accessory Design, students have created bags that blur the boundaries between applied art and functional design. A comprehensive publication will accompany the exhibition in early 2025.
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