A new trend has taken the youth by large, a trend that always existed in the underbelly of fashion, a trend that took the world by storm in the mid-1990’s only to quietly disappear into the sidelines. This fascinating new trend is…actually kind of small, its mini backpacks. From the streets of Los Angeles, California, to the trendy teens of Seoul, South Korea, these backpacks are taking the world by storm and the question is why they shouldn’t?

Red, blue, yellow pink; leather, jeans, cotton, these bags now line the shelves of every shop. From luxury brands like Louis Vuitton to the college girl’s favourite Forever 21, even the street shops of Mumbai have these gorgeous little trendsetters hanging by the dozen, waiting to be bought.

These backpacks not only come in a variety of colours and material, they come in a variety of design. Stripes, polka dots, various little prints, and even animal faces or designs on them, these are meant to be worn by those who can pull off elegance, while remaining in touch with their youthful side. The best part of these bags are that everything from the zipper to the inside lining is made of material sturdy enough to stand a train ride through Dadar station.

The backpack, until very recently was considered the most childish thing one could own, especially the older you were. People waited to put away their backpacks and start using sling bags or even laptop bags, just to appear a little bit older, a little more fashion forwards, and most importantly, a little less like a child. With the backpack trend back in full swing, though, even the red carpet is being visited by memories of childhood.

But my, how much has style changed since then. These new backpacks most often aren’t meant for both shoulders, with thin, often leather, shoulder straps, these are meant to hang off one shoulder and be as much a statement accessory as a girl’s necklace. The other change is that this trend almost singularly aims to show that these are backpacks for girls, but with celebrity icons like Johnny Depp donning one, this trend has become a unisexual phenomenon. From the bulky, canvas giants lugged back and forth from school, this everyday item has gone through a fashion make-over.

These backpacks are ideal for any outing, any time of day. The smallness of it makes it the perfect place to stash your wallet, purse, keys, and any other necessary items regardless of where you are going. Girls can be seen wearing the mini backpack everywhere from shopping malls to first dates. The best part about these backpacks is that they are hands-free, which means you don’t need to worry about putting it down or misplacing it. Another big feature of many of these backpacks is the drawstring closing, which allows the owner to pull it tightly shut, it can’t be opened unless pulled, and you will definitely feel someone pulling those strings should they attempt to steal.

These backpacks are ideal for any outing, any time of day. The smallness of it makes it the perfect place to stash your wallet, purse, keys, and any other necessary items regardless of where you are going. Girls can be seen wearing the mini backpack everywhere from shopping malls to first dates. The best part about these backpacks is that they are hands-free, which means you don’t need to worry about putting it down or misplacing it. Another big feature of many of these backpacks is the drawstring closing, which allows the owner to pull it tightly shut, it can’t be opened unless pulled, and you will definitely feel someone pulling those strings should they attempt to steal.

These backpacks have stolen the limelight and everyone from the toddlers to the college graduates want one of these trendy minis.