The Custom muslin drawstring bags have become very trendy in the past few years for eco-friendly packaging solutions.

Whether that is because they are easy to carry, versatile to use or because you can customize them to fit your style, they have become a wardrobe staple for every fashionista and trend setter. Muslin bags can be used customized to meet a variety of different needs, such as to package your products including clothes, jewelry, cosmetics, skincare products, and accessories.

But do you know where the idea for these cute accessories came from? Or the evolution they have gone through to get to your closets? It’s an exciting tale of xyz and we’re excited to share about it with you here.

The History of the Muslin drawstring Bags

Drawstring bags or Muslin bags have actually been around for centuries!

Stemming from ancient Egypt originally, there are actually hieroglyphs featuring men with small pouches tied around their waists attached to a long cord. Considered highly significant and originally made from vegetable fibers twisted together or animal skins, these bags appear to have held many functions, ranging from storing seeds to toting coins and religious relics.

While culturally significant, bags didn’t actually become popular for fashion until the medieval century.

The Rise of the Girdle bag - 14th and 15th Century

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, both men and women cinched small bags to the front of their girdles to hold their valuables because pockets hadn’t been invented yet. What’s interesting is that, according to the Tassen Museum of bags and purses, is that the cord's length was dictated by the wearer's social standing and lifestyle and was even considered a marriage tool for young women.

Muslin Bags as a Fashion Accessory - 18th and 19th Century

Flashing forward to the 18th century, drawstring bags were just beginning to become very trendy as everyday items used to transport more than just religious relics. People began to bead them and add their own style touches, colors, and fabrics to mark their style and personality.

By the 20th century, the drawstring bag had become a staple for social events where dancing provided a need for small bags that could be attached to the body. By this point in time, smaller bags also began to represent femininity and beauty up until the 1980s when cinched bags were associated with high fashion brands, which were no longer produced by hand by the wearer.

Fast Fashion in the 21st century

Throughout the 1990s until today, fast fashion has changed the way we purchase accessories. Sweatshops, fuel-based synthetic products, and mass scale manufacturing have made the race to the bottom a reality in many countries causing most of the bags sold in the market today to be tainted by their supply chains. Ethical accessory companies are few and far between and unlike the past where styles wouldn’t change for decades, shifting consumer tastes and demand make it hard to find quality items made under good conditions for their workers.

At Gallant International, we care about people and planet, so we do everything in our power to make sure that our workers are happy, our planet is well treated and our customers’ needs are met. This means being sustainable in every aspect of our business, as well as making sure our products are reusable, biodegradable, durable and long lasting. We also work hard to make sure they look good as well as feel good.

We believe that Organic cotton and Fair Trade practices make all the difference, and our customers seem to agree.