Past event
Bags: Inside Out
From rucksacks to despatch boxes, Birkin bags to Louis Vuitton luggage, Bags: Inside Out explored the style, function, design and craftsmanship of the ultimate accessory.
This exhibition is now closed at V&A South Kensington
Exhibition trailer
★★★★★ – Totes fabulous
The Guardian
Sponsored by
Mulberry is a British luxury lifestyle brand that was founded in 1971 in Somerset, where we continue manufacturing leather bags to this day. We employ a community of craftspeople across our two factories and are proud of the responsible approach we take in creating exceptional accessories that are truly made to last.
Exhibition highlights
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Horse chestnut bag and purse, by Emily Jo Gibbs, 1996, UK. Museum no. T.531:1, 2-1996. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Burse for the Great Seal of England, 1558 – 1603, England. Museum no. T.40-1986. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Model with Lait de Coco Evening Bag, Karl Lagerfeld, 2014. © Jason Lloyd Evans -
Lemière, opera bag and contents, about 1910, France. Museum no. T.219 to F-1965. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Despatch Box owned by Winston Churchill, by John Peck & Son, about 1921, England. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
'Baguette' bag, by Fendi, 2000, Italy -
Chatelaine, 1863 – 1885, probably England. Museum no. M.32:1 to 13-1969. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Dowry bag (bhujki), mid 20th century, Sindh, Pakistan. Museum no. IS.21-1981. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
'Fabergé Egg', evening bag, by Judith Leiber, 1983, US. Museum no. T.511-1997. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Mulberry 'Bayswater' and 'Alexa' bags from the private collections of Kate Moss and Alexa Chung, 2003 and 2010, England. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Tracey Emin for Longchamp, International Woman suitcase, 2004. Museum no. T.30:1-2005. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London. DACS -
‘Ocean Legend’ Falabella Go backpack, by Stella McCartney x Parley for the Oceans, Spring – Summer 2018, England. Museum no. T.174-2019. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London -
Frog purse, 17th century. © Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford
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Features
About the Bags: Inside Out exhibition
Find out more about our exhibition dedicated to the ultimate accessory
Inside the Bags: Inside Out exhibition
Take a look inside the Bags: Inside Out exhibition
Making bags
Take a look at the complex process of making bags
Burse for Queen Elizabeth I's Great Seal
Why is this richly embroidered Elizabethan 'burse' a symbol of status and power?
Trunks and travelling
Embark on a journey to find out about travelling trunks
Women's tie-on pockets
Find out how the development of the humble pocket offered independence and security for women
Make your own tie-on pockets
No pockets in your favourite outfit? Make your own!
What's in the bag?
Have a peep inside some of our bags and discover their hidden contents
Bags: Inside Out
Header image: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London