Ladies’ inseparable friend
In a highly residential area of
the city, even the breeze that wafted from the beach beyond, could not
cool the stifling heat in the garage that served as the home of twelve
human beings. A religious statue was in one corner. A cloth curtain
divided the single garage room into two.
There were no windows, the only ventilation coming through the front
and rear entrance. At night we slept with both doors open to prevent
suffocation. This is the house where I was born and lived in Italy. We
were very poor and my father used to make little leather pouches for a
living.
 Men used them to carry their coins in them. Women seemed to have no
need just then for such pouches, because the men were obviously far more
generous than they are now. In the midst of poverty. I grew to be a
pretty teenager. I had eight sisters and the rest were boys. My father
took good care of me and designed me to be the most fashionable figure
in town. Without any education at all my father was confident that some
day I will bring him a big fortune from my pretty looks.
He worked so hard to bring me up as a good citizen and to serve
others. As I reached adolescence my body became shapely and beautiful.
My skin colour was coffee brown which says reliable, energetic,
optimistic and lucky. This is a vital necessity for most of today’s
career society women. It was not until the twentieth century that women
got their hands on me.
Although I am regarded as a primary female fashion accessory, it has
almost nothing at all to do with women holding the purse strings. The
ways in which women have carried their belongings throughout history
have merely reflected the eras in which they lived. Not just a fashion
accessory any more. Today I am considered as large and sturdy and
functional to support the many needs of today’s lifestyle. There were
lot of admirers and lovers who eyed me.
I was in big demand among the elite women and in the fashion world.
By now my sisters too have joined me. They grew in different sizes and
covered their bodies with leather, in fabric, fur or even feather. Now
my father had become an expert in turning out most important fashion
accessory for women. Money was coming to make a reasonable living. Along
with me my sisters participated in fashion shows. Day by day we became
well known among society women.
Admittedly, the times are strange. - many women wear junk jewellery
around their necks and carry their precious jewellery in the zippered
compartment of their hand bags. As such ‘handbags’ have become a vital
necessity for most of today’s career and society women.
A new chapter in my life had begun. More and more women discovered
the convenience of carrying their belongings in a handsome sling or
hand-held bag. The contents of the hand bag, can on an average day,
offer food to the hungry, clothes to the needy, and comfort to the sick.
Still more, my services could offer nappy-holding compartments, make up
pouches, business cards slots, mobile phones and pockets to put in house
keys, hair brush, lipstick and credit cards.
Coming from the slums, I have gained the greatest satisfaction by
serving the rich and the poor, making my country proud that Italian
leather hand-bags were truly born.
- Tissa Hewavitarane
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