Oriental Aghabani Clutch Bag – Handbag – Purple Aghabani fabric

Bag

A bag (also known regionally as a sack) is a common tool in the form of a non-rigid container. The use of bags predates recorded history, with the earliest bags being no more than lengths of animal skin, cotton, or woven plant fibers, folded up at the edges and secured in that shape with strings of the same material.

Despite their simplicity, bags have been fundamental for the development of human civilization, as they allow people to easily collect loose materials such as berries or food grains, and to transport more items than could readily be carried in the hands. The word probably has its origins in the Norse word baggi, from the reconstructed Proto-Indo-European bʰak, but is also comparable to the Welsh baich (load, bundle), and the Greek Τσιαντουλίτσα (Chandulícha, load).

Cheap disposable paper bags and plastic shopping bags are very common in the retail trade as a convenience for shoppers, and are often supplied by the shop for free or for a small fee Customers may also take their own shopping bags to use in shops. Although, paper had been used for purposes of wrapping and padding in ancient China since the 2nd century BC,^[3] the first use of paper bags (for preserving the flavor of tea) in China came during the later Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD).

Handbag – Clutch Bag – Purse

The modern purse, clutch, pouch or handbag came about in England during the Industrial Revolution, in part due to the increase in travel by railway. In 1841 the Doncaster industrialist and confectionery entrepreneur Samuel Parkinson (of butterscotch fame) ordered a set of travelling cases and trunks and insisted on a travelling case or bag for his wife’s particulars after noticing that her purse was too small and made from material that would not withstand the journey. He stipulated that he wanted various handbags for his wife, varying in size for different occasions and asked that they be made from the same leather that was being used for his cases and trunks to distinguish them from the then-familiar carpetbag and other travellers’ cloth bags used by members of the popular classes. H. J. Cave (London) obliged and produced the first modern set of luxury handbags, as we would recognize them today, including a clutch and a tote (named as ‘ladies travelling case’). These are now on display in the Museum of Bags and Purses in Amsterdam. H. J. Cave did continue to sell and advertise the handbags, but many critics said that women did not need them and that bags of such size and heavy material would ‘break the backs of ladies.’ H. J. Cave ceased to promote the bags after 1865, concentrating on trunks instead, although they continued to make the odd handbag for royalty, celebrities or to celebrate special occasions, the Queen’s 2012 Diamond Jubilee being the most recent. However, H.J. Cave resumed handbag production in 2010.

Aghabani Fabrics

Aghabani fabrics are embroidery type of fabrics with unique designs of leaves, flowers, branches or other arabesque geometry inspired by the environment of Syria. Silk yarns, colourful or golden, are used in the stitch and silk fabrics are used to form the base of the Aghabani. However, nowadays rayon viscous threads and cotton fabrics are used instead. This fabric first appear in Aleppo and then it flourished in Damascus. It is believed the name is generated form the two families who started this type of fabric in Damascus, Al-Agha family and Al-Bani family, Aghabani.

Types of Aghabani

There are many types of Aghabani depending on the materials used.

1. Organza

The base fabric for this types is thin woven silk fabric and the stitch yarns used are thick silk yarns.  This type is mainly used in wedding dresses.

2. Damascene Aghabani

The base fabric for this type is linen with 1/1 design.  Thick silk threads are also used for stitching. In this design there are no empty spaces left on the face of the base fabric. There is another name for this kind which s also ‘Tals’.