A hobo is a homeless person; a tramp or vagrant. This term was historically utilized to reference a migrant worker or homeless vagrant, especially one who is impoverished. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States around 1890.  When hobos traveled, they often carried a stick with a bindle to carry their belongings.

• A bindle is the bag, sack, or carrying device stereotypically used by the American sub-culture of hobos. A "bindlestiff" was another name for a hobo who carried a bindle. The bindle is colloquially known as the "blanket stick", particularly within the Northeastern hobo community.

This style of purse is called a hobo bag because it resembles the shape of the bindle on a stick that hobos are portrayed as carrying over their shoulder in drawings and cartoons. A bindle is the bag, sack, or carrying device stereotypically used by the American sub-culture of hobos.

The hobo bag is a style of handbag or purse that is typically large and characterized by a crescent shape, a slouchy posture and a long strap designed to wear over the shoulder.

Hobo bags have a strap, whose length is typically adjustable. Women can wear the hobo bags on their shoulder, rather than holding the strap in their hand.  The women's hobo bags are produced using relatively flexible materials such as soft leather, microfiber, suede, etc.  As a result of using soft material, this style of bag tends to slouch or fold in on itself, even when hanging from a woman's shoulder.

Learn more about hobo handbags in our fashion influence section.

If you want to be even more stylish, you should carry your favorite hobo handbag.

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