The weekender bag has a longer, richer history than you might expect. Its story begins with fabric. In the Belgian town of Duffel, a dense wool cloth was being woven as early as the 1600s. That fabric gave its name to the original “duffel bags”—sturdy cylindrical sacks cinched with a drawstring.
The first known reference to a “duffel bag” appeared in 1768, when an English newspaper advertised “an old green duffil bag.” From the start, these bags were prized for being resilient, portable, and made for rough travel long before modern luggage existed.
A Military Legacy
The duffel became standard issue in the 20th century. Soldiers in World Wars I and II carried rugged canvas versions like the “Bag, Barrack M-1929”—roomy, collapsible, and nearly indestructible. When the wars ended, servicemen brought their duffels home, and military surplus stores sold them by the thousands. Soon campers, students, and travelers embraced them for the same reason soldiers did: they were functional, affordable, and ready to go anywhere. Utility became lifestyle.
The Weekend Escape
The idea of a “weekend bag” dates back to 1921, when Merriam-Webster first recorded the term. But the modern version—what we now think of as a weekender—really took shape after WWII. Economic growth, new ways to travel, and more leisure time gave rise to the quick escape. A dedicated, stylish bag for spontaneous getaways became the new essential.
Star Power
Culture finished the job. Hollywood icons like Steve McQueen were often photographed with rugged travel gear, embedding the duffel-shaped weekender in the public imagination as the choice of cool adventurers. Decades later, David Beckham was seen carrying sleek leather weekenders through airports, giving the bag an air of modern sophistication. From humble cloth sacks, the weekender had become a global style statement.
Present: The Weekender Today
Fast forward to today, and the weekender is a universal symbol of freedom and flexibility. Toss it in the trunk for a road trip, slide it into an overhead bin, or carry it onto a train platform—it’s more than luggage. It’s shorthand for spontaneity.
At Res Ipsa, we reinterpret that tradition with our handmade Kilim Weekenders. Each one is crafted from one-of-a-kind vintage, Kilim rugs, so no two are ever the same. They’re durable enough to last for decades of journeys, yet artful enough to turn heads wherever your travels take you.
Travel Trivia
- In Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days (1872), Phileas Fogg famously declared he’d travel with “only a bag”—proof that light, intentional packing has been part of the romance of travel for centuries. We explored this story in more depth in our journal post, The Weekender: A Classic of Travelers Around the World, which dives into the literary and cultural roots of the weekender bag.
- The word weekender only became common in the 20th century, as leisure trips and airline travel took hold.
- Many of today’s most iconic luxury bags trace their design DNA back to practical travel gear, proving style and function have always journeyed together.
Future: Packing Your Story
Today’s traveler doesn’t just carry a bag—they carry a story. The weekender still stands for independence, mobility, and taste. And when you travel with a Res Ipsa Kilim Weekender, you’re not just packing clothes—you’re carrying history, craft, and individuality.
Pack your story. Travel light. Travel far. Travel beautifully.
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