The humble bag, an item previously reserved for women, is now a top selling fashion accessory for the modern man. While many of the more traditional apparel items have not been selling well in recent years, men's bags are jumping off shelves. Many of the top international designers are expanding to men's bags to meet the growing demand. Fashion houses from Hugo Boss to Burberry have in recent years expanded to men's bags, while many others are intending to follow suit.
"Unlike the past, men cannot get by carrying everything in their pockets. In many cases, we carry around a lot of stuff, stuff like laptops, books, and mobiles. You need a place to put this stuff. That's where men's bags come in." Ben's views seem to be shared by others. Many men cite practicality as the fundamental reason for owning a bag. Chris, a business man in his 30s, stated "I have so many things to carry around. These new range of bags provide a stylish solution."
Beyond the functional reasons for owning a bag, fashion is another reason for the growing popularity of men's bags. Bags are increasingly becoming a fashion statement with men's bags being a dominant feature in the latest runway shows in Milan and Paris. Popular culture has also added fuel to the trend. Rapper Kanye West and football superstar David Beckham are often photographed toting stylish messenger bags which has helped drive up sales. The modern men's bag is now slicker and more fashionable than in the past. Ben points out, "When I started, I could hardly find any bags that were stylish. Nowadays, we are seeing more companies coming out with stylish designs."