Bandolier bags were an important part of the apparel of a well-dressed man in the Woodlands region. Bags were often worn two at a time, with the straps crossed over the chest. Owning two bags was a sign of both wealth and prestige. Along with many other pieces of clothing, the bags formed the fancy dress of the woodland males.

      Bandolier bags were made locally and traded throughout the Plains and beyond. They have been called “friendship bags” because they were given as gifts to strengthen relationships both within tribes and between other tribes. Carrying bags were common to both Native Americans who traditionally created both small, decorated leather slot pouches and finger woven wool utilitarian carrying bags, and to French explorers and trappers. The size and proportions of bandolier bags such as the example shown here may therefore be the result of the ongoing contacts between Native American and European cultures. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the decoration on bandolier bags became increasingly elaborate, but the basic construction of the bags remained constant.

     The beautifully beaded patterns created by women on bandolier bags bolstered the status of their male users. Earlier bandolier bags were ornamented with geometric shapes.