SCHLEPPING SERIES
Part 3: The Tote Bag
Ode to the tote bag—
The humble tote bag. Always there, hanging on your closet door knob, ready for you when none of your purses match your outfit or all of your hand bags are too small for your bits and bobs. Quietly hanging, waiting for you to realize that yes, it’s the tote bag that I need!
The tote is a tiny billboard on your arm—proof of that 5k on St Patricks day you did in 2013, a small canvas award for your generous donation to the Sierra Club. Merch from your family reunion in Siesta Key that you initially groaned at but now find to be the perfect pilates bag. Oh, versatile and veracious tote. If you haven’t struck up a conversation with someone over your matching local radio station donation drive tote you haven’t LIVED!
When the thought of a political shirt is too much for your taste, but a sticker for your water bottle isn’t doing enough for the cause, you know what is the perfect option? You do. It’s the tote bag.
And it’s a statement, more often than not. A plastic bag at the grocery store? Me?! Never! A down to earth utilitarian badge of honor that can be paired with any nice outfit that begs the question—with that low maintenance aura of yours—are your flip flops The Row or Old Navy?
I’m guilty of becoming completely enamored with a brand that’s, ugh, out of my price range. And so I buy the company’s cheapest item, a tote bag, to feel like I’m a little bit (about half a yard of canvas to be exact) in the club.
Let’s look at some totes through time, shall we?
The first tote bag is often accredited to L.L. Bean’s 1940’s design, created for carrying ice from delivery trucks to a residential ice box. It became a household item and looks virtually the same to the Boat and Tote sold today.
In the 1980’s and 90’s, the tote bag became an emblematic piece of merch. Ne’er a corporate event took place without printing at least 700 logo totes that are now occupying a landfill somewhere in rural Nevada.
I don’t even really need to remind us of the Y2K tote bag trends, do I? Ladies, choose your fighter:
I was the kelly green Billabong, but you knew that.
The ultra utilitarian (originally yellow!) cult favorite Ikea shopper bag, the FRAKTA, was created in the 1960’s. Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad noticed how awkward it was for people to carry home goods that didn’t fit in the small plastic bags out of the store, and searched for an affordable solution. In true Scandinavian fashion, a simple, minimalist design was created.
In 2017, Balenciaga sold a $2,145 bag and was quick to catch enormous amounts of flack from the internet and FRAKTA die-hards.
Instead of jumping on the hate train, Ikea took the high road and put out a little snark of their own—
If I were back at my alma mater nodding off in Advertising 101, I’m sure we would be discussing this campaign in break out groups. (Go Buffs)
A few other tote bags have gained a special kind of stardom and notoriety in pop culture. I’m fondly remembering the early days of the Free People gauzy pink bags—ah be still my boho heart. Or when the cool older girls permanently aligned themselves with a specific color of Lululemon bags like it was their born star sign. (I remember a friend’s older sister once describing someone as such a white bag girl. I’m so thrilled to not be 15.) Lest we forget the Urban Outfitters shopper bags that also had a major moment in time.
I talk about these days as if the same thing isn’t happening now, just with new niche bags in different niche communities. The New Yorker and Strand Book Store toters, I’m looking at you. I was recently made aware of the obsession that surrounds the Sézane free-with-purchase bags. There’s an entire Facebook group of these “Sézanettes”—96,700 people strong— where people buy, trade, and beg for the specific bag they’re after. Some limited edition totes go for nearly $100 online, and remember these, these were all free. Elle Magazine described it as the “Sézane Tote Bag Black Market.”
In 2022 the Ironic Boat and Tote craze made this bag the most coveted accessory of the summer. The Instagram where it call began, @ironicboatandtote, features some of the cheekiest and best phrases that are forever immortalized in embroidery thread.
An L.L. Bean partnership with Tibi in December of 2024 got some, ahem, attention for their collaborative take on the Boat and Tote—
The Cut, are you actually asking if a belt wrapped around a cotton bag is worth $500? Hell no! The real question you should be asking is why do I want it?!
Tote bags have become nothing short of iconic for the way in which people use them as statements to the world, and extensions of their personalities and beliefs. I know damn well what I’m doing when I wear my Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Save Out Last Wild Places” tote bag around my conservative home town, in the same way everyone does when they decide how to adorn themselves for the day. Our togs make a statement and present a story for the world around us to read, and no piece embodies that more than the tote bag.
I wanted to include a few other stand-out totes that are either more technical or elevated, or notable in other ways.
-This wool-like Gore-Tex tote bag with a snap closure from Jagged Edge, my local gear shop, is my most used bag. It’s simple, no extra bells or whistles, but it’s rugged and the perfect size for everyday use. They don’t sell everything they make online so next time you’re in Telluride, you’ll have to visit the shop! And me!
Oh! and also a notable tote accessory—
This travel strap from Cincha is an incredible little invention. You can use it with one of their bags, or just on a tote of your own. It has a sticky inside and an elastic split strap on the back so it stays snug on your carry-on. Genius!
-This big Arc’teryx has also become one of my most used bags. It was given to me, full transparency, so I didn’t have to look at the price tag, but now knowing how much use I get out of it makes me confident I would buy it again. It’s fully seam-sealed, waterproof, and bigger than any other tote bag I own. It also opens really wide so you can pile an absurd amount of things in. I recently saw a woman carrying a toddler in ski boots in this bag, so that says it all.
-This bag from Kaan is my go-to for bringing on trips. I flatten it in the bottom of my suitcase and bring it out for long days of sight-seeing, souvenir shopping, or farmers market runs. It’s wide strap and sturdy construction make this bag look quite elevated and expensive, while still being completely functional.
A conversation I had this morning around tote bags reminded me that many of us find ourselves in a similar situations—we are actually not allowed to bring home any more tote bags. (shout out Kathryn!) Either set in place by our well meaning partners or the more self-disciplined among us. Buuut if a totally different tote with a really specific purpose comes along, an exception could be made. These fit into that category:
Classic Easy Zipper Tote from Cuyana- just rugged enough with all the amenities of a nicer purse. I could see this being the perfect everyday bag. The non-zippered version with two handle lengths also catches my eye.
Oooh I love this little market tote from Terrain. I never feel as adorable and darling as I do strolling through the farmers market on a summer day with this bag loaded up with wine and flowers and eggs, each in their little designated spot. I do, however, often end up buying things I do not need just because there’s a place left in the bag—I’ll feel bad for that spot if I don’t fill it, the poor thing. This green one from CapaBunga has an insulated pouch too!
Waterproof Bag 25L+ from Rux- this really seems to be the perfect gear bag. Designed to be incredibly burley and has a removable, roll top dry bag lining on the inside that can come out and get hosed down. Especially good for any water activities or wet climates.
The Day Bag from Yardsale- a water-resistant bag designed for ski stuff that you can throw in the back of your car on the way to the mountain. I like the cinchable top and that it’s machine washable!
1st Gen Tote 25L from DB Journey- I love the sleek, utilitarian look of this bag, and how it’s styled here. I think it could be a nice grounding piece with a dressier outfit, or even a cool mountain mom/dad diaper bag.
1st Generation Tote 50L from DB Journey- a bigger version on the one above, but how about those little yellow handles!!
Eljudner 25L from Klattermusen- aside from loving the look of this bag, I think this is a great option for a work bag that looks cool but stays rugged. The Urur is another great tote option that also has backpack straps.
Handwoven Leather Tote from Madewell- For those of us who want a nicer all-season purse but cant abandon the functionality of the tote bag, I think this is a perfect option. If I were going to Europe this summer, I’d probably get this bag. Not only because of it’s functional size and chic design, but also because it would be a great fall/winter bag as well (which is hard to do with woven materials!)
This has me thinking- should we make a TOGS TOTE?!
Lots of love to you all,
Kellyn
1000% would carry a TOGS tote !!!!
Ohh I love a sturdy tote! My favorite one is a special edition of a classic Filson tote, which they did in collaboration with Elliott Bay Bookstore in Seattle. I also love the look of Alex Mill totes! I really don't need another bag, but these tempt me.