Going back to my schooldays, there was only one thing to be seen with on the bus – an Adidas sports bag with a big and bold logo on the side. And with a bit of searching, you can still find them – like this Adidas Adi Carry Bag.
Part of the Adidas Originals range, this nylon bag has an outer zip pocket and a single inner zip pocket – and of course, that huge logo and a black and white colour scheme.
You can pick one up now – expect to pay around £40.
Find out more at the Hip website
Not all overnight luggage is black or grey – check out this funky alternative from Marks & Spencer – the Flower Print Trolley Bag.
The obvious selling point is the retro-style flower print, which looks like it’s just come off a 70s shopping bag. But it’s also a practical item, easy to transport with the extendable handle and sturdy wheels, along with a front pocket in addition to the main storage for the bits and pieces you need to hand.
Available now, you can pick one up for a very reasonable £45.
Cram Cream designs are wonderfully childlike and often retro too – best summed up by these Cram Cream retro tote bags.
Featuring typically cute vintage/US-styled advertisements, you’d expect them to be an American company. Oh no, they come out of Japan (the spelling mistakes give it away), but can be found fairly regularly in stores in the US and Europe.
However, I’ve not seen these bags in a European store so far, but you can pick them up at Modcloth for a bargain $8.99 (around £4.50) and they do ship worldwide.
Vintage bags of a very different kind – these Momaboma bags are modern designs, but integrate vintage magazines from the 1950s to the 1970s for their eye-catching look.
So, will they get wet and fall apart in the rain? Well, no. All the vintage magazines are treated with a translucent covering to protect against the elements. And to add to the vintage feel, the lining of the bags are actually made from vintage t-shirts, while the structure of the bag is made from recycled inner tubes from car tyres.
There’s a number of designs in the range (check the website for the full set), with the LP bag (named for obvious reasons) and the Bombo colour pictured above. Prices vary, check this page for your nearest retailer.
See the full range at the Momaboma website
One thing the world isn’t short of is Beatles memorabilia. And although we’ve tried hard to avoid it, we are strangely drawn to these Beatles album-themed messenger bags.
The two pictured here are Revolver and Yellow Submarine, but other themes are available. All are fully licensed, made from PVC and with adjustable straps and inside pockets. And if you go for the Yellow Submarine bag, you also get the rather smart submarine fastener.
They retail for £34.99.
Find out more at the Hiccup website
Not the first time that we’ve seen vintage fabrics recycled into stylish modern-day items, but newcomer Kat Boon has some 70s vintage fabric bags that are well worth a look.
This long bag is made from an original 70s print on cotton in a rare pink and brown colour way. It is lined with dupion silk in fudge with dark brown fine leather handles and has a magnetic fastener, co-ordinating inside pocket and matching brooch / bag decoration.
You can pick it up for £50 inc P&P. And check out the website for many more bags, home furnishings and fashion items in a similar style.
