Why is a "hobo bag" called a "hobo bag"?

[bbernardini]

While watching QVC the other night (not by choice), I noticed they were selling a woman's handbag called a "hobo bag." I can't for the life of me figure out why anybody would want to call something a "hobo bag". No offense to you hobos out there, of course, but I would think the word would have a negative connotation. What in the world makes it a "hobo bag"?

[Deep13]

1. It was stolen from a migrant laborer. nt

[flvegan]

2. The shortened term is even worse.

[Inchworm]

3. Curious- what does a "hobo bag" look like

Long and thin, so as to be able to fit a hoe in?

:shrug:

[bbernardini]

4. Picture at the following link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo_bag

Also from that link, an explanation:

"This style of purse is called a hobo bag because it resembles the shape of the bindle on a stick that hobos are portrayed as carrying over their shoulder in drawings and cartoons."

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. The bags in that pic don't look like hobo bundle shapes to me

:shrug:

[petronius]

5. Because they used to be made exclusively by hobos

It was a productive industry and very well-paying. Unfortunately, the jobs were outsourced to India and all the hobos had to take to the rails... :(

[tigereye]

7. it is kind of offensive, isn't it?

kind of like the "bag of rags" clothing style that was popular one year - the fashion industry doesn't really get the concept of poverty - well most of em anyway.

The irony seems to be lost on em...

[EstimatedProphet]

8. They kidnap and skin alive hoboes to make them.