The cutest folk bags and purses of the world

Every national costume in the world is complemented with accessories. And one of the main and most important accessories is a bag, pouch, or purse.

Sporran (Scotland)
The sporran is an important part of a Scottish male folk outfit. It is a belt-pouch worn with a kilt. The purpose of the sporran is to carry things (since the kilt is pocketless) and to keep the kilt in place. This bag is usually worn in the front, but during running, dancing, driving and other activities the pouch can be turned around the waist to hang on the hip. The sporran is attached to the belt with a help of a leather strap or chain. It can be made from various materials: leather, fur, animal skins, and fabric. The sporrans are usually very fine and embellished with metal decorations, tassels, embossing, etc. Often, men made the sporrans themselves because they wanted unicity.

I like furry sporrans). This one is the cutest

Various German vintage bags

Ukrainian vintage pouch
Male leather pouch called “moshonka”. Kosiv district, Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine (south-western part of the country). The end of the 19th century. The pouch is handmade and nicely adorned

Male purses and pouches. Three of them are made from leather and one is made from bast. Western areas of Ukraine, the end of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century

Ukrainian wicker bag
Wicker shoulder bag made of bast (the bark of trees). It is called “naviska”. The size of naviska can be different. The traditional shape is when one of the flaps is longer and serves as a lid (as you can see on the photo).
This particular bag is from Rivne region of Ukraine (north-western part of the country). The end of the 19th – the beginning of the 20th century. Such bags made of bast are traditional for the wooded Northern Ukraine.

Traditional leather pouches from Hutsul region of Ukraine (Carpathian area). These pouches are called “kalytka”. They are small because these are vintage analogues of wallets, used to carry coins. They were attached to the belt and hung from it. Also, you see that kalytka pouches are richly adorned with metal decorations, tassels, etc.

Traditional leather shoulder bag called “tobivka” from Hutsul area (Carpathian region of Ukraine). It is modern but accurately made, just like authentic 19th- and 20th-century folk bags. In this period, tobivka bags gained this half-moon shape, while older Hutsul shoulder bags usually were rectangular. The bag is adorned with stamping on leather.
Exhibit of Yaremche Museum of Carpathian Region Ethnography and Ecology, Ivano-Frankivsk region of Ukraine.

Traditional Hutsul bag called “tobivka”, Carpathian region of Ukraine, 1980. This one is so ornate and pretty! It is made from leather, adorned with gems, metal decorations, and stamping on leather.

Authentic shoulder bag called “dz’obnia” from western Ukraine, Carpathian region. It is rather small. The bag is traditionally hand-woven and ornate, adorned with tiny yarn pom-pons or other decorations. Dz’obnia was used by women to carry small items, like a kerchief or some bread for lunch.

Modern replica of medieval pouch attached to the belt made by historical reconstructors. Look how beautifully it’s decorated! Also, you can see narrow leather belt with intricate brass belt plates.

Marvelous kid’s kjolsäck bag. Part of a girl’s traditional outfit from Rättvik region of Sweden. It is very bright and adorned with lovely pom-pons.

Modern reconstruction of a medieval leather bag worn attached to a belt. Kyivan Rus’ period, to be more precise, the 10th – early 11th century. You can see lovely decorative plates on the bag and belt.

Women’s traditional kjolsäck bag from Sweden. It looks like a separate pocket attached to the waist. The pouch is beautifully decorated.

Some of these bags are super stylish even nowadays

Small decorative handbag from the early 20th century. The bag is cutely embroidered and has chain handle and metal clasp

Lovely hand-woven shoulder bag called “taistra” from western Ukraine, the early 20th century. It is made in the technique of tapestry weave and has a beautiful woven handle. The bag is decorated with schematic bird depictions with their nest – symbols of family, love, and well-being for a couple.