Beaded Bags

The Beaded bag has been around for centuries and it appears to be popular once again today. Some styles may have stayed the same, but there are changes and more updated styles. From handcrafted to factory made., you can find high end designs, and more moderately priced beaded bags. The beaded bag is a fashion trend that keeps reappearing on the fashion scene. You'll find the beaded bag in different fabric content, in knitted and crocheted and even in  leather styles. You'll find that the beads are hand-sewn, woven, and sometimes glued depending on the bag.

These days beads come in all shapes, colors, sizes. From different metals, glasses, plastics and even wooden beads. The choices are seemingly endless.

In the 19th century most bags were made with very tiny fine beads. The bags would have a thousand beads per square inch. Around the 18th and 19th century the style of the beaded bags were knitted with a drawstring handle. This was called a reticule. The reticule became a must for the fashionable women. The most sought after reticule designs were of rural , romantic, and figure scenes.

RETICULE

A reticule is a women's small handbag, usually having a drawstring. It is also refereed to as an indispensable. It is used to carry indispensable articles. Usually you would find items like handkerchiefs, smelling salts, coins, perfume, keys, even a pistol (in those days you didn't need a permit to carry a gun). Women's dresses were not designed with pockets. So it was a necessary accessory.

For your more formal occasion the reticule was made out of fancier fabrics, such as velvet, fur, and silk. Trimmed with beading and feathers. At the turn of the century the reticule was also used in the home for storage.