THE NATURAL WORLD AND HANDBAGS
Bag designs have long been inspired by the vibrant colors and shapes of the natural world. Pineapples, for example, became a symbol of opulence and exoticism after their introduction into Europe in the 17th century. ‘Pineapple Mania’ reached a pinnacle in the 19th century England when pineapple-shaped bags and accessories were the heigh of fashion.
FRUIT FAD STRIKES THAILAND
This Summer Watermelon Handbag was weaved out of red, green and black dyed raffia in Thailand, circa 2020. With an abundance of high-quality raw materials and fibers, including but not limited to raffia, Thailand is known for its industry’s ability to weave and knit fabrics and objects like this handbag. Thai artisans are also credited as superior weavers. To encourage the young generation to become interested in weaving arts and crafts, the SUPPORT Art and Crafts international Center of Thailand, a public organization, the Sustainable Arts and Crafts Institute of Thailand (Sacit) and JSL Global Media teamed up to launch a reality competition show titled Sacict War Craft on Amarin TV that first aired on August 7, 2021. In the show, five teams of young designers compete to create weaving product designs.
On the market of many other countries, one can also see watermelon handbags made of plastic or other material, such as these plastic bags that were spotted in Madrid in 2021.
