Boho Vintage Beach Bags Practical and Beautiful : Happy Memories

People ask me all the time what makes a good collection?….what would be a good thing to collect? I always reply….well, what do you love? Always collect what you love…with a necessary purpose. It’s as simple as that. I don’t collect things for their monetary value, or to hoard in a box in the basement. I just collect what is special to me. And…does the collection bring enjoyment? Can it liven up a space? Can it bring interest, color, and texture into a room? My array of retro beach totes sure can! My Boho vintage beach bags are practical and beautiful. They are also super special because they bring to mind many happy memories from some of my childhood summer days.

Happy Memories

My straw and raffia souvenir bags remind me of my Grandma, Great Aunt, and Uncle who went to Treasure Island, Florida every summer without fail. And, if we were lucky enough, we got to go too. It’s one of my favorite memories of my childhood. Staying on the Gulf in a small beach house apartment eating fresh seafood dinners. Riding the waves on a canvas raft, and watching sting rays swim below us. Hanging out at John’s Pass marina waiting for my Uncle Tony to dock after a long day of deep-sea fishing. I see all that and more every time I look at one of these fabulous straw bags, purses, and totes.

Vintage Beach Bag Popularity

Woven straw totes and purses were big in the 1950s. They were all the rage and could be purchased as a souvenir at destination vacation spots, like Hawaii and the Caribbean Islands. These bags would often showcase the names of various tropical locales. They were very popular with the tourists. I’ve seen them from Jamaica, Nassau, The Bahamas, as well as Acapulco and Mexico City.  These bags are unique because they were straw and decorated with colorful dyed raffia by the locals. On some of the ones I own, I can see where the crafter made pencil marks on the bag where the colored raffia design was going to be woven.  Floral designs, fruit, and even people have been embroidered on the front of the totes, which helps make them a special keepsake from a favorite vacation.

My Ongoing Collection of Boho Vintage Beach Bags

My collection consists of three large tote bags, two purses, and three smaller bags…and I use every one of them! I use most of them in my bedroom. They hold various items like my hairdryer, curling irons, library books, music CDs, and more. I can use a larger tote to hold swimsuits and towels. The bags in my art room hold fabrics for projects. So every bag has a purpose and is out on display to liven up my spaces!

Join in the Fun

So collect what you LOVE! Finding something beautiful as well as meaningful, and then using it in a functional way in your home is a wonderful thing! These Boho vintage beach bags are practical and beautiful. and they are super special to me because they keep my favorite summertime memories alive! What sparks that special memory for you? I encourage you to join in the FUN! Think of a collection you can add to your own decor…something purposeful, colorful, and FUN! Give it a try! I’d love to hear from you about any special collections that you have assembled! Let’s get HOMEY!

If you are interested you can find some great examples of vintage totes and purses on eBay, see Awesome Vintage Bahama Tote, 1960’s Voven Raffia Purse, and Vintage Woven Hand Bag (paid links).

If you enjoyed this post, check out my beach bags on dipslay in my bedroom in “Remarkable Makeover for New Lamps: Oh Happy Day!”