The Rise of the Tote Bag

One of the major trends in fashion right now is the upsurge in the amount of tote bags that are on the market. A tote bag is a medium to large over the shoulder bag that can carry groceries, work gear, and other daily items. The bag is typically cotton but they do come in several other variations. In this article, we are going to explore the rise of the tote bag and attempt to answer why it has gotten so popular over the years.

Origin of the tote bag

The tote bag was first introduced in the 1940s as a bag designed with utilitarian capabilities. The bag was introduced as something much larger than a purse that could be used by women to carry whatever was needed. The first brand to introduce this type of styling for an over the shoulder bag was outdoor brand L.L.Bean. As society and fashion evolved over the next 80 years there were many iterations of larger shoulder bags but they were primarily targeted to women. What we are seeing now with tote bags is that men are using them because of the style of current totes as well as the style of them. One of the biggest reasons the tote bag has picked up so much popularity recently is because of how useful it is.

The fashion industry has recently seen an upsurge of tote bags on the market. A tote bag is a medium to large shoulder bag that can carry groceries, work gear, and other daily items. The bag is typically made of cotton, but they do come in several other variations. In this article, we explore the rise of the tote bag and attempt to answer why it has gotten so popular over the years.

Origin of the tote bag

The tote bag was first introduced in the 1940s as a bag designed with utilitarian capabilities. The bag was presented as something larger than a purse that could be used by women to carry whatever was needed. The first brand to introduce this type of bag was outdoor brand L.L.Bean. As society and fashion evolved over the next 80 years, there were many iterations of larger shoulder bags, however, they were primarily targeted towards women. Now, what we are seeing with tote bags is that men are using them just as much as women, if not more. This is because the tote bag is a very versatile accessory that caters to both men and women. For men, totes serve as a more casual alternative to the briefcase. One of the biggest reasons why the tote bag has picked up so much popularity is because of how useful it is. 

The utility of the tote bag

Tote bags typically measure anywhere from 10-20 inches in width and 8-14 inches in length. This means the bag has a deep pouch which allows one to carry a slew of items. Another great feature of the tote is that it tends to be durable and lightweight. The bags are often made of cotton or canvas, which lasts long and makes it easy to fold and carry as an additional bag option in a backpack, for example. Tote bags are also great options for something such as a picnic, going to a local market, or as a replacement for single-use plastic bags. Companies have done a fantastic job of capitalizing on the rise of tote bags by releasing personalized branded bags that capture the essence of the brand’s design language.

Brand tote bag showcase

Below are a few of the tote bags from brands that we really enjoy. Some of these bags are no longer available, but they still showcase different styles and the utility of tote bags. Edward Joiner is playing with the idea of releasing our very own tote bag in 2021.

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