A waist bag, fanny pack, belt bag, moon bag, belly bag (American English), or bumbag (British English) geebag (Irish English) is a small fabric pouch worn like a belt around the waist by use of a strap above the hips that is secured usually with some sort of buckle. The straps sometimes have tri-glide slides, making them adjustable in order to fit properly. It can be considered as a purse worn around the waist.
Although traditionally the bag was worn with the pouch at the front, the separate American and British names derive from the fact that they are often worn with the pouch above the buttocks, for which "fanny" and "bum" are respective slang terms in each country.
Early usage
Historically, the bag was positioned in front of the body, so people could protect themselves from bandits. Bags attached to belts have been in use since antiquity in many cultures. One origin was the Native American buffalo pouch which was used instead of sewing pockets into clothing. Buffalo pouches may also be worn on the wrist or carried on the front of the chest via a neck strap or lanyard. Ötzi had a belt pouch 5,000 years ago. The European medieval belt-pouch is another antecedent which was superseded as clothing came to have pockets. The Scottish sporran is a similar belted pouch that survived because of the impracticality of pockets in a kilt.
1950s and later
In 1954, a skiers leather fanny pack appeared in a Sports Illustrated Christmas shopping guide:
"$10. The lightweight leather 'fanny pack' is designed to hold a cross-country skier's wax and lunch. It's also useful for cyclists, hikers, equestrians."
In 1962, reportedly, Melba Stone, an Australian widow, inspired by a kangaroo, is sometimes credited with making a fanny pack.
"In 1988, Adweek named the fanny pack the product of the year."— i-D
The modern version made from nylon and other synthetic materials came into use in the 1980s and they were especially en vogue in the 1990s, but gradually their popularity fell into decline by the mid-2000s. Their use was satirised by the American humorist Weird Al Yankovic in his song "White & Nerdy".
Mobile devices (and USB charging cables and backup batteries), bottles of water, snacks, tissue paper, first aid, isopropyl alcohol, contact lenses, and pepper spray are among some of the most common items stored in the bag. Fanny packs designed for concealed carry of a weapon are available.
In other cultures, they are known as banana bags (in France) and kidney bags (in Spain), while in Italy it is called the marsupio, from the marsupium. In Costa Rica, this kind of bag is called a Skippy or canguru, from the TV series Skippy the Kangaroo. Variations include the wristpack, which is essentially a fanny pack for the wrist.
Unlike handbags, they do not have to be carried, and unlike backpacks, they do not put undue strain on the back. Often referred to as "waist bags", they tend to be worn "cross body" rather than around the waist. Fashion houses such as Chanel and Gucci are at the forefront of the trend. The practicality of fanny packs is particularly popular in "festival fashion", where outfits tend to be more extravagant.
Couture fashion
In 2012, calling them "belted satchels" or "hands-free bags", several designer labels sought to bring the accessory back by offering stylish and expensive designs selling for as much as $1,995.
In July 2018, The Boston Globe reported that fanny packs are back in vogue with new packs introduced by fashion designers Gucci, Prada, and Louis Vuitton. The designer packs retail for up to $1,500 and are being worn by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Rihanna, Jaden Smith, and Russell Westbrook. This time around, the packs can be worn around the waist or worn cross-body. Vogue magazine reported on the trend by writing "Alas, due to our odd fascination with ugly throwback clothing, the fanny pack has been vindicated."
Gallery
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Artificial leather belt bag with side release buckle, tri-glide slide for adjustment and top-open zipper compartment
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A woman wearing a leather fanny pack
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Medieval painting by the Limbourg brothers showing a lord wearing a belt bag with a bollock dagger, c. 1416
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A nineteenth century photograph of a Plains Indian showing a belted bag known as a medicine pouch
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Fanny pack on a Swedish fashion photo, 1937.
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Fanny pack worn across the chest, 2022
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See also
- Money belt
- Sporran, a pouch that functions like a pocket for kilt-wearers
- Back pack
- Messenger bag, a larger pouch than a fanny pack
- Utility belt
References
- Wandahsega, Larissa. "Buffalo Pouch". PotawatomiLanguage.org. Archived from the original on 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
- Muzquiz, Albert (6 August 2018). "History of the Fanny Pack / Cross-Body Bag". Heddels. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- "The Cultural History of the Fanny Pack". MEL Magazine. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- "CHRISTMAS BY MAIL ORDER". Sports Illustrated Vault. SportsIllustrated.com. November 22, 1954. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- Lowe, Jaime (4 September 2015). "Letter of Recommendation: Fanny Packs". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- Uthman, Daniel. "Quarterbacks get hip to fanny packs". USA TODAY. No. July 15, 2015. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- "From fashion joke to street-style hit: the return of the bumbag". the Guardian. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- Newell-Hanson, Alice (6 September 2017). "fanny packs are back, whether you like it or not". i-D. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
- Muzquiz, A. (2018, August 6). History of the fanny pack/cross-body bag. Heddels. https://www.heddels.com/2018/08/history-fanny-pack-cross-body-bag/
- Chris Ewens (1 April 2010). "Pack Mentality: Rethinking the Fanny Pack". usconcealedcarry.com. US Concealed Carry Association. Archived from the original on 16 June 2013. Retrieved 14 June 2013.
- Glen Levy (11 February 2011). "Fashion Fail: Are Fanny Packs Really Making a Comeback?". Time. Time Inc. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- Rachel Dodes (10 February 2011). "With Fanny Packs on the Runway, Can Mom Jeans Be Far Behind?". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
- Teitell, Beth (2018-07-24). "Fanny packs: They're in vogue. We're not lying". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2018-07-25.