Mad About Bags? This Exhibition Is Made For You

Will Noble
By Will Noble Last edited 56 months ago

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Mad About Bags? This Exhibition Is Made For You
Image: Shutterstock

From ads for posh Luis Vuittons, to supermarket checkouts demanding to know how many you've used, bags are intrinsic to all our lives.

The V&A has seized on this, with an exhibition that'll focus entirely on, yup, bags. Named simply Bags! the show (coming to the South Ken museum in April 2020) will display over 300 objects — studying every aspect of the accessory, from the 16th century to today.

Thought this was appropriate. Image: V&A

Expect to see rucksacks to despatch boxes, Birkin bags to tiny purses designed to be carried on a finger. Learn how bags are made, how they evolved over the centuries and how some came to be lavishly expensive items for the super-wealthy. This is going to be a comprehensive history of the world's number one accessory.

(We also imagine the V&A gift shop will be doing a roaring trade in tote bags.)

The V&A is home of the nation's official collection of textiles and fashion. Its recent blockbusters include Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams and Mary Quant.

Bags! is at the V&A from 25 April 2020 to 3 January 2021. Tickets go on sale winter 2019.

Last Updated 15 July 2019