The satchel has been a typical accessory of English students for centuries, as attested in
Shakespeare's famous monologue, "
All the world's a stage": “The whining school-boy, with his satchel and shining morning face.” The traditional
Oxford and
Cambridge style satchel features a simple pouch with a front flap. Variations include designs with a single or double pocket on the front and sometimes a handle on the top of the bag. The classic school bag satchel often had two straps, so that it could be worn like a backpack, with the design having the straps coming in a V from the centre of the back of the bag, rather than separate straps on each side. This style is sometimes called a satchel backpack. The widespread use of modern backpacks by students began in the late 1960s, when lightweight nylon daypacks replaced traditional shoulder satchels and canvas book bags. In
Japan the term for a school bag satchel is
randoseru. == In fashion ==