Iconic object of the 1980s, then a tacky symbol of tourists of the time, the fanny pack has spanned the ages to be today an accessory that is as practical as it is elegant. Between sportswear trend and fashion object, let us tell you the story… of the fanny pack...
If you think that the fanny pack was born in the 1980s, you are (almost) wrong… The origins of this iconic accessory actually date back to 3300 BC: at that time, men were already wearing goat skins around their waists to carry small objects. Later, in 1907, the ethnologist Edward Curtis photographed Apaches and Comanches in America sporting curious pouches made of bison skin, and cowboys storing their pistols in holsters that were precursors to fanny packs.
However, it was in the 20th century that the fanny pack truly made its appearance. In 1954, the American magazine "Sport Illustrated" highlighted skiers wearing the fanny pack: it appeared as the ideal accessory for athletes needing to keep their hands free while engaging in their activities.
Initially a favorite accessory of athletes, the fanny pack became accessible to the general public in the 1980s. Named in French for its elongated shape, the fanny pack is referred to as a "Fanny pack" or "bumbag" in British slang. The more bilingual among you will have understood the somewhat irreverent meaning of this translation: for the English, the fanny pack is a "bum bag" worn at the waist… above the intimate parts. But regardless of its name, the fanny pack has gained popularity worldwide: a key item of the "sportswear" decade, it is worn by both women and men who flaunt it in saturated, even garish colors, and technical materials.
The fanny pack lost its luster starting in the 2000s: in the era of "bling" and a more minimalist fashion, it is now perceived as a tacky accessory. But it is well known that fashion is a perpetual cycle… The fanny pack resurfaced in the 2010s through the trend of "ugly chic": renowned designers turned it into a chic and appealing item with vibrant colors, delicate chains in leather or metal, and high-end materials. The year 2017 particularly marked the return of cool and practical vintage: the fanny pack redesigned its smile and definitively rose from its ashes in maxi formats. It became the domain of clubbers thanks to its practical and stylish design, and is no longer necessarily attached to the waist but worn crossbody on the chest or shoulder.
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