A Glint From The Past – Glomesh Vintage Metal Bags
Glomesh vintage metal mesh bags from Sydney, Australia: who founded the brand in 1958, how the bags are made and what to look for inside one.
Glomesh is Australian, and so am I. The metal mesh bags came out of Sydney, and the old ones still shine. When I was growing up in Australia my mum, my family and our friends all had Glomesh.
The bags in the photographs are mine, all of them Glomesh. I bought them in a vintage shop in Australia.
Where Glomesh comes from
Glomesh was founded in Sydney in 1958 by Louis and Alice Kennedy, immigrants from Hungary. The bags and accessories took off around the world, and at the brand’s height everybody wanted one. In the decades after that the name faded.
The vintage ones belong to the days of disco balls, flared trousers and glamorous nights out.
How a Glomesh bag is made
A Glomesh bag is made of tiny metal plates, linked one to the next until they form a mesh. Think of the precision that takes. Every plate catches the light, which is where the shimmer comes from.
Inside a Glomesh bag
Open one and look inside. The bag in the photograph above has a gold-tone frame, an orange satin lining and a label that reads Glomesh Australia. The white mesh bag below has a silver frame, a purple satin lining and a small brand label.
Styles come and go. These have lasted.
Carrying a Glomesh now
A vintage Glomesh was made for an evening out, and it still does that job. You put today’s things into yesterday’s bag. For me, it is a piece of Australian history on the arm.
Why I love Glomesh
In a world of fast fashion, I would rather carry something like this. If you haven’t looked at Glomesh yet, perhaps it is time.
The last photograph is a style tip: a silk scarf and a gold vintage Yves Saint Laurent brooch beside the bags. I own them all.
