‘I felt so sophisticated hitting the town with my Glomesh in hand’

A-ha, a gift! It was the early 1970s and we were having a quiet family celebration to mark my 18th birthday. Yes, I was now officially a ‘grown up’ now.

My parents had gifted me with an Oroton Glomesh purse – a must-have item for us grown-up girls at the time. It was beautiful. It had a proper gold clasp and lining and that glorious soft feel as you ran your fingers over it.

Now I was fianally to be regarded as an adult. As a covert smoker, I might have preferred a Glomesh cigarette case, but this purse was perfect. While writing this blog, I rummaged through my cluttered cupboard of old handbags and general baggage searching for this beloved item. Yes, I found it. I still have my Glomesh purse and it’s in immaculate condition. It is a treasured souvenir of my younger days.

Once I had this stylish purse in my hands I was finally fully equipped to go on dates with my handsome Italian stallion, otherwise known as my future ex-husband. Before each date I would thoughtfully swap purses, keeping my Glomesh purse for only the best occasions.

I’d set off on my dates with my Glomesh clasped in my hand as we hit popular restaurants and cafes. Perhaps we’d grab a bite at a Chinese café in Melbourne city, the foodie capital of Australia at the time. After a banquet we would dine on fried banana fritters for dessert, sometimes with fried ice-cream. We grew up thinking this sweet treat was authentic Asian cuisine from Peking. Sometimes we would go Dutch on a meal. Sweet, I could display my Glomesh while I pulled out my cash. I was so mature!

There were other forms of Glomesh of course. Key cases, little clutch purses, coin purses, sometimes even a bag, and they came in different colours too, like white and silver.

My Glomesh purse still has its sheen today. It is a collector’s item now. It was a particularly ’70s Australian experience owning one of these bags. I can gaze affectionally at my purse. I kept it all these years through thick and thin. My purse was a must have back then and for me it still is today.