Across the GCSU campus, students are turning one of the most mundane items, a backpack, into a personal statement. Bookbags no longer need to be strictly for carrying textbooks and laptops; they have become a way for students to express themselves with various pins, fun charms and even hanging plush Labubu figures.
Accessorizing a backpack is more than a fun add-on. For many, it has become a way to convey personalities, interests and hobbies without even saying anything.
“I think my pins help show who I am just a little. I try to find cute ones that would make sense for me personally. I think they also give my bag something different. It helps it stand out a little,” said Madelyn Murphy, a junior criminal justice major.
The appeal lies in turning something plain into something that feels personal. Even two identical bags can look entirely different once charms, pins or plush figures are added. It helps prevent a backpack from feeling generic.
While not having to actually say any words to convey messages, sometimes these decorations have sparked connections too. Whether it is a certain pop culture reference, a favorite animal or a hobby, these little details that students add to their bags can create instant bonds.
“My charms have even started a conversation with someone new. I recall someone in my class mentioning that they had always liked my charms. I also made conversation with someone who I thought had cool bag charms,” said Naomi Alvis, a junior psychology major.
And then there is the internet’s role in making accessories a full-on craze. On TikTok and Instagram, bags are being styled, customized and turned into viral statements.
The most dramatic example of this: Labubus.
These plush figures exploded on social media and became must-have items almost overnight. Labubus are not only collectibles, but also known to be bag accessories. The dolls are clipped to backpacks, purses and keychains, transforming every bag into a mini statement piece.
“I don’t normally accessorize, but a couple of times I did put one of my lafufus [a fake Labubu doll] on my purse, mainly so my Labubu wouldn’t get stolen,” said Hailey Paige, a freshman psychology major.” “I think people we consider influencers were collecting them and making it seem cool, so everyone went out and brought Labubus because they said so.”
Labubus aren’t the only stars of the show.
Walk across campus and spot backpacks decorated with sorority pins, crocheted animals, patches, lanyards and trinkets picked up from concerts or thrift shops. Some bags are covered in color, while others feature just a single charm that holds special meaning.
“The most meaningful bag charm I got is a little Miffy. My family went on a trip to Amsterdam, and we had to run to a store because we were by the shore and seagulls were attacking us for our fries,”said Naomi Alvis, a junior psychology major.” “The store we went into turned out to be a Miffy one, and I bought myself a little keychain to commemorate the moment and the trip.”
Every backpack can tell a story, whether it is a reminder of a favorite trip, a shared hobby with a friend or a simple charm that makes someone smile during a long day of classes. In a sea of identical bags, these little details allow students to stand out and use accessories to mark experiences that are meaningful to them.
What ties them all together is creativity. Students are turning a boring school necessity into something that feels like them. It is a small act of self-expression, but one of the easiest ways to wear their personality on their shoulder.