From catwalk to sidewalk, the fanny pack has timeless charm.
Fanny pack, bum bag, waist bag, or belt bag. Whatever you feel inclined to call it, the fanny pack has quite an interesting history of moving in and out of fashion. The accessory has firmly made itself at home in our closets but how did it rise to popularity?
Since the beginning of civilization, humans have used a variety of fanny packs to carry tools, trinkets, and currency. Small pouches with an attached cord worn around the waist or slung across the body, the fanny pack design has proven its longstanding utility. In medieval times, people would wear small pouches around their waist that were ornately adorned and often seen as a status symbol. Clothes did not have pockets yet, so the pouches were particularly important for traveling with money and small possessions. Similarly, the Scottish kilt called the feileadh mor or “large wrap” was designed without pockets, but was accompanied by a sporran bag worn on the front of the kilt.
In the modern era, leather fanny packs were used by skiers in the 1950s. Because of their large pocket and durability, they were perfect for an all-day session on the slopes and kept their belongings dry. Then in 1962, Australian Melba Stone claimed she designed a waist bag inspired by the front pouch of a kangaroo thus giving us the version of what we now think of as a fanny pack.
The Must-Have Accessory
In the '80s and early part of the '90s, the fanny pack was at the height of fashion. As the workout craze grew in popularity, so did the necessity for a hands-free and stylish bag to hold your belongings while jogging, biking, or rollerblading. A 1988 issue of Adweek named the fanny pack the product of the year, placing it firmly as the must-have fashion accessory. Typically made of nylon or fabric reminiscent of the popular windbreaker, fanny packs came in bright colors to match the aesthetic of the decade. By the late '90s, they had become a symbol of the dorky tourist and someone who cared more for utility than they did for fashion. It was soon looked at as out of style and became the butt of the joke for fashion accessories.
Reinvention of the Fanny Pack
As with most styles, trends tend to come back around and the fanny pack is no exception. A new iteration hit the runways in the late 2010s starting with sleek belt bags like those from Hermes, Gucci, and Chanel. With a singular pocket usually with a button for a clasp, the belt bag looked more like a larger leather wallet with a matching leather belt. It was a toned-down version of the fanny pack, essentially easing us back into wearing a bag around our waist again.
Thanks to street style taking over as the dominant fashion aesthetic, fanny bags found their way back into popularity and the wardrobes of the larger public. An updated way of wearing them across the body looked cooler and made access to their contents even easier. Many styles were still reminiscent of the original large front pocket fanny pack, but this time they were less bulky and more streamlined. The new fanny pack seemed to be playing off our nostalgia for '90s style but with a much-needed update. New versions came in posh leather or the classic nylon but came in solid colors rather than a hodgepodge of neon-colored patches.
It may be that the pandemic also played a part in cementing the fanny pack’s necessity in fashion. While we all looked for ways to limit touching things, a crossbody fanny pack became an easy choice to carry our phone, wallet, and keys while limiting exposure. Plus, it can still be seen in pop culture today. Our first look at the Barbie movie was a behind-the-scenes shot of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in bright coordinating rollerblading outfits. And behold, our future Ken rocking none other than a glowing neon yellow fanny pack around his waist.
The enduring design of the fanny pack makes it adaptable to change with current trends giving this accessory lasting appeal. Whether slung across the chest or sitting snugly around the waist, we can always find a need for a fanny pack. It may be one of the most popular and eternal accessories we have.