Satchels and messenger bags first became popular in the 17th century and have since weaved in and out of fashion trends as the go-to functional tote.    They first proved themselves as spacious storage devices in literature. The satchel is often associated with the classic image of the English schoolboy. “And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel…” is a phrase found in Shakespeare’s monologue As You Like It.    Even Indiana Jones made use of a satchel to carry around his various treasure hunting and heroic devices.    For fashion-conscious students, satchels are beginning to replace backpacks for carrying books around campus.    “I hate my bookbag and I can’t stand it” Jefferson Ellison, a freshman in fashion and textile management and contributor to Packfashion. com, said.    “I spent two years searching for the perfect satchel. I think it’s going to be here for a while.”    These bags are often designed with one long strap to be worn diagonally across the body, with the bag hanging off the opposite hip rather than directly down one side of the body.    With satchels predating backpacks, these bags have had a long evolution. With its long-winded history, what was the driving force behind revival of this bag style?    “It’s a reviving trend because it’s been around [for such a long time],” Nguyen said. “but it just fades and it just comes and goes. And it changes with generations too, because at one point the satchels were like messenger bags with cartoon characters, and now they’re retro bags with buckles.”    Satchels are just one of the many fashion trends that have gone through various stages of revival and popularity. The category of trends in bags has grown largely due to the ever-changing media development.    “Fashion was not [as much] of a mainstream thing before [the past few years],” Ellison said. “It was an exclusive thing that no one talked about, but it’s now all over TV and on reality shows. Now girls are carrying clutches and boho bags, and purses are becoming the new book bags. It’s a big thing and it’s also cheap way to add on glamour to what you’re wearing.”    Although the satchel has come a long way and has since become a staple in many fashionistas’ closets, backpacks have retained a large amount of loyalty among college students.    “My backpack is really heavy so I can’t imagine putting all that weight on my shoulders,” Jael Vasquez, a senior in business administration, said. “I have had my satchel for three years. I like it as a purse, but I wouldn’t put a lot of books in it. It’s a good function but not a replacement for a book bag. If I didn’t have to carry my laptop and two books, I’d definitely carry one of those.”    With new trends constantly emerging, what is one to expect as the newest craze in the world of bags aside from the stable and functional satchel?    “The oversized clutch is huge, I think that is going to be the next big thing for people” Ellison said. “Clutches are cute and you see them on the red carpet. If you have ever watched “Sex and the City”, there’s this one scene where Carrie was carrying this oversized Louis Vuitton clutch and it’s the size of a Macbook, and ever since then, oversized clutches are the biggest thing because they’re big enough to hold whatever you can possibly need.”    For those afraid to change their style in any drastic way, bags continue to be a more moderate way to try new trends. Whether their style leans more towards satchels, clutches or simply backpacks, bags have assisted people in terms of use and style development.    With the world of fashion and functionality continuously changing, bags continue to evolve to meet any and every unique taste.