February 29 - everyday carry artisans

Partying in a cigarette smoke filled club or enjoying your dinner at that famous BBQ diner may have already got you complaining of that stale odor on your precious bag.  These are some methods to help you get that fresh smell back again.

• Don't throw those perfume sample testers away, leave it in your bag instead and your bag will smell like your favorite brand of perfume at no extra cost.
• Don't throw those used tea bags away.  Dry them and leave them in your bags as tea leaves are well known to absorb any odors efficiently.
• Leaving crushed up balls of newspapers in your un-used bags still kept in your closet will reduce moisture build up and absorb odor.

As we cram more activities into our days, we tend to cram even more stuffs into our bags.  This eventually leads to what we call the handbag syndrome.

The neck has a natural curve to it and it evenly distributes force along the spine.  When we carry a heavy bag on one side over a period of time, that natural curve starts to straighten which will lead to chronic neck and back pains.

• DON'T carry more than 10 percent of your body weight. Any more can throw off your posture.   i.e. A 45 kg lady should not carry more than 4.5 kgs load which is almost equivalent to a small pack of grain rice.

• DO consider a backpack. It distributes the weight between both shoulders.

• DO look for a shoulder bag with short, wide straps. Slender straps tend to dig into your shoulder or fall off. Also, try to alternate the shoulder you carry it on.

• Avoid long-strapped bags and chain handles. The former swings around as you walk, while the chain handle digs into your skin.

• When carrying shoulder bags, make sure the longest your bag sits is around your waist or bellybutton area.

The longevity of your bag depends on many factors such as

1.  Material of the bag.

• - Select materials such as genuine leather, tight knitted canvas or nylon for they are one of the few materials that are very durable with proper care.
• - Tearing of the inner lining of the bag is one of the most common problems, do check if the cloth lining is relatively thick to minimize the risk of tearing.
• - Metal bag clips are less prone to breaking so try knocking them against each other.  If a dull tone is heard, it may be plastic instead.

2.  Workmanship of the bag.

• - Thicker stitching  with bigger knots at the end may indicate tougher and more durable stitches.

3.  Intended use of the bag.

• Never use a bag for a use not intended for it. 

  • If its a small document bag, do not try to squeeze your heavy laptop in just because you do not have a laptop bag at that moment.   Never overload it!

  • If you need a bag for rugged use such as going to the beach or rock climbing, nylon or genuine leather would be a better material to begin with.

  • If you need something light, water resistant or perhaps easier to match your evening gown, it maybe better to consider synthetic leather as they are relatively lighter and they do come in a vast variety of colors and textures.

4.  Maintenance of the bag.

• Materials such a genuine leather require polishing and conditioning to improve its luster and strength.
• Never leave a wet bag in the closet, regardless of the material.  Dampness increases the probability of mould growing which will destroy the bag's visual asthetics and physical attributes.  Decay may also set in, causing damages to cloth stitching and linings.