Dresses with pockets

Jobi - Petrolium

Have you ever wondered why the pockets in your jeans are so small? While there's room for your wallet and a giant Samsung phone in most men's pants. Or have you also cursed that it's almost impossible to find dresses with pockets? The answer to your questions and frustrations can be found in the history of fashion, which, as always, is closely linked to the evolution of gender politics over time.

Less strut in skirts was the death knell for women's pockets

The history of pockets goes back many centuries. Back then, pockets took the form of small bags that were sewn into the clothes or tied around the waist of both men and women. Working women often wore these pouch pockets on the outside of their clothes for quick access to the contents, while women who didn't work wore them inside large skirts where there was plenty of room.

In the 19th century, fashion changed significantly and skirts became much narrower. As a result, many women ditched the bag-like pockets as they were considered unfashionable and quite impractical to wear under tight-fitting clothes. However, many men's clothes were now equipped with built-in pockets as we know them today, while women now had to do without pockets for their belongings. Instead, the small handbag was born and it was the precursor to the handbags you find in every woman's wardrobe today.

"A bag is not a pocket"

This is what the American author and feminist Charlotte P. Gilman wrote in the New York Times back in 1905. In it, she questioned why women’s clothing did not feature pockets, whilst pockets were found on virtually all men’s clothing. Shortly afterwards, the suffragettes (or the early women’s movement, as they are also known) took up the fight for the right to have pockets in their clothes. The suffragette suit was thus born at the same time as women began to gain the right to vote across the world. The suit had plenty of practical pockets and became a huge success. For a while, at least. Fashion changed, and when the economic crisis of the 1930s struck and women were once again confined to the home, the suffragette suit was forgotten once more.

Today, not all women's clothing still has pockets. There is a big difference in the size of women's and men's pockets, and finding dresses with pockets can be a major feat. But is this even a problem, you might ask? After all, women can just carry a bag, which is also one of the most beloved accessories for many. To this question, the majority of suffragettes of the past and feminists of today would probably answer: Yes, it's a problem. Because as I said back in 1905, a bag is not a pocket.

In the lack of pockets in women's clothing lies a classic gender role symbolism. That women are for decoration and men are for action: women don't need pockets as they have no possessions to look after other than the ones they adorn you with. Men, on the other hand, are shopping individuals with purses, money and important belongings... Hello! It's 2018!

Dresses with pockets, please!

Here at Ecouture, we're big bag lovers. Especially because we're always lugging around computers, sketchpads and pencil cases that just don't fit in a pocket. That's why we sell beautiful, eco-friendly leather bags with room for it all. And luckily, there's plenty of women's rights politics built into them. They're made in factories in India, where women are given the same rights and wages as men.

But we also love pockets. Even in dresses. That's why we're more than happy to lead the march and take a stand for pockets. Sometimes a dress can look better without pockets, but adding pockets to a design can also give a dress an extra cool dimension. And when we add pockets to our dresses, they shouldn't be those fancy decorative pockets. No, they should be big, deep pockets that you can actually use for something. Here at Ecouture, we believe that you can be feminine and pretty to look at and at the same time be a cool power woman who needs pockets for her belongings. So here's a shout out to the rest of the fashion industry. Bring on the pockets in the dresses. THANK YOU!