Time Capsule

What is the point of a duffle bag?

If you watched Wimbledon, you probably saw more duffle bags than you heard umpires issuing the classic injunction, ‘Quiet, please. Thank you’. Which is saying something. Yet the above is one of the most Googled questions relating to the holdall. While it may betray some people’s scepticism, the duffle bag’s long-standing appeal is undeniable.

The prevailing view is that its name derived from an eponymous Belgian town near Antwerp. In the 17th century, manufacturers in Duffel produced a thick woollen cloth (called, in a fit of wild inspiration, duffel) which they exported throughout western Europe. Making use of its innate durability, Spanish and Portuguese sailors festooned their ships with duffel coverings, converting any surplus material into makeshift bags.

The earliest use of “duffel bag” (the “duffle” spelling appeared later, and can be used interchangeably), in reference to a bag with a modern holdall silhouette, has been attributed to American poet E. E. Cummings. While serving in an ambulance corps in Paris during World War I, he sent letters in which he coined the term. Both the American and British armed forces carried supplies in duffel bags, many of which were characterised by the now-classic cylindrical shape, as well as a drawstring that fastened at the top. It’s believed that the famous marching song Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit-Bag referred to one of these.

By the 1940s, much larger versions were created, with robust straps for carrying even weightier gear. In the decades following World War II, they found their way out of military surplus stores and into the hands of musicians, sportspeople and gym-goers, all of whom favoured these spacious carriers for hauling around their equipment.

Over time the drawstring was replaced by zips, and the original material by tough alternatives such as leather and canvas. Duffle bags were equipped with hard bottoms, hoop handles and internal pockets. Simple to pack and with something attractive about the rugged, functional approach to life they convey, these bags have become a trendy unisex item sported all around the world.

Attesting to duffle bags’ huge popularity among travellers is the quantity of brands that have begun adding wheels to them. And it’s telling that the duffle has become interchangeable with terms such as “gym bag” and “weekender”. They’re extremely versatile; one of very few accessories as at-home in the locker room as the boardroom.

This sleek-yet-functional versatility is exemplified in the Thomas Pink x Troubadour Embark Compact Duffle. In keeping with the sustainable ethos of Troubadour, it’s made from recycled materials and a vegan leather trim. While its understated black design, complemented by the minimalist embellishments of a Thomas Pink stripe and pink accent stitching, perfectly suits the stylish city worker.

And it boasts a host of features that enhance the functionality for which duffle bags are so loved. A shoe compartment with a waterproof, antimicrobial lining; easily accessible mesh pockets; a matching shirt bag that doubles as a laptop sleeve; and a pocket designed to fit a 17- inch laptop. It’s what might be called a “squared” duffle bag, closer to the modern cuboid style than its original cylinder shape – that is to say, having many points after all...