The Origins of the Tote Bag

WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

Versatile, eco-friendly, functional, and fashionable, the tote bag has dominated the apparel industry for decades. Whether it be culture-conscious museum goers to soccer moms and high fashion connoisseurs, the tote bag offers something for everyone. With a spectrum between the simple canvas classic to the highly sought-after Hermès Birkin Bag, the accessory is a solution to any outfit and one of few wardrobe staples that successfully ticks the boxes: elegant yet casual, functional yet versatile. The best products are often the most simple – at its core, the bag is constructed of two panels and a handle, with a base at the bottom for wider sizes. So where did this ingenious design originate from?

While the verb to “tote” is said to be an English word, it is likely to have originated from West Africa to “tota” which refers to picking up and carrying a heavy load. As a word itself, it did not become widely used until the 1800s and was first seen in print in Washington Irving’s novel “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” Although using large bags to carry goods has been around since early cultures, the “tote bag” as we know it today was first introduced by L.L. Bean in the 1940s. In its original form, the accessory launched as an ice bag. Its large size, easy to grip handles, and ability to support a heavy weight was soon adopted by consumers desiring functionality. By the 1950s, it evolved beyond its original intent and was used to carry groceries, materials, and other household items, with a savvy L.L. Bean offering a wider variety of colors and models.

The tote bag reached its wide popularity in the 1960s when American designer, Bonnie Cashin, introduced it in leather for the first time. Similar to denim, canvas for many years was considered a material strictly for industrial use. While L.L. Bean changed the perception around canvas and large-sized reusable bags, Bonnie Cashin earns the credit for having taken it a step further. She positioned what was once a widely used grocery bag instead as a luxury accessory. The 1960s was an era when women were becoming increasingly focused on environmental consciousness. Fashion was experimental between genders and there was a need for women to have greater functionality in their wardrobes.  Women of the ‘60s adopted the bag with fervor, transforming it into a widely acceptable outfit essential. The bag was populated in the fashion world and we never looked back since.

Considered to be a “walking billboard” with 2 flat panels to advertise, fashion brands, art museums, grocery stores, and artists use the bags as a canvas to make their mark. The tote bag dominated the Spring/Summer 2020 runways, now in an exaggerated XXL format. While this excessive size is jarring for the everyday shopper, it is a homage to another shift we’re seeing in our current culture. Women are working, we’re moving, we’re shaking, we’re raising kids, juggling gym time, friend time, and personal time. We have a lot on our plate and whether intentional or not, the oversized bag is a metaphor for the increasing demands on our time and attention. Despite what may be a passing trend, the tote bag itself is here to stay as one of the most ingenious accessories of our time.

Photo: Ekrulila