Here are 3 soft-sides pencil cases. One was made each year from 1992 through 1994. The bottom one with dots is 1992, the Sonic 2 one is 1993, and the squares one is 1994. They each have a zip top, and were made by "Giochi Preziosi". You can see the company logo in 1 corner on each of the cases. (Do note it has been rubbed as the cases were used) 

You can see the progress of the logo for Giochi Preziosi here, it starts off as a sitting girl doll on the earlier cases but on

the final one, it's just the words. These cases are made of a canvas like material, as seen in the detail shots.

TODO: Duplicate item on site, merge text. 

Here are 3 pencil cases from Italy.
They're all soft-sides cases with zipper close tops. They are all also likely that nylon artificial canvas type material. Each has a different design, but they were all likely made around the same time. The first has the Sonic 2 logo where Tails was peeking out from behind the '2'. (This was always fairly seldom-used on merch) it's got the classic logo & probably an egg-o-matic there in the corner. Notice how the print is wearing off of this one--the ink that's required to print on this material is usually a plastic-based substance so it can flake or rub with use and age.
The next bag has a pixel-textured type look, with fully shaded stock Sonic & the full color logo. This zipper is purple. The last pencil pouch has finger waving/fully shaded Sonic but look...it's one of the Japanese type ways to place the logo on a flat line/no curve. This one is half blue/half gray-green with a sort of pixel-decay effect going at an angle. There are logos, copyrights & probably maker-names on all these (all the same company) but the photo is very old and small so you can't read them.

Photo & owned by Oliger77