A Tote Story

From childhood sewing projects to designing bags for a living, a love letter to the most useful thing you can carry

Most people who know me know about my love (obsession) with a big old tote bag. I probably own upwards of 30 canvas totes alone, and that’s not even counting the bags in every other material imaginable.

All my totes at a recent photoshoot: Striped Monogrammed Tote // L.L. Bean Totes // A stenciled bag I customized // Big Bag on wheels I swear by // Suede Zip Pouch

I’ve always been drawn to functional objects, and bags have fascinated me for as long as I can remember. When I was in elementary school, I used to sew fabric bags for myself (and then in high school, I remember shopping for a green silk to make a skirt and then a matching bag with the scraps). I was always captivated by the details: the width of a strap, the color of a handle, the proportions of a silhouette. My mom would often ask why I “needed” so many bags. I still don’t have a great answer for that, but one thing I know is that nothing has changed with age. If anything, I’ve just accumulated more bags.

In hindsight, it makes perfect sense that I’ve spent much of my career designing bags and accessories. It’s given me a place to channel all those obsessions and turn them into something useful. There’s something deeply satisfying about creating an object that is both beautiful and genuinely functional—something people reach for every day.

I’ve also always loved personalization. During my time designing the accessories at Madewell, one of my favorite initiatives was introducing blind-embossed monogramming on leather bags and small leather goods. There’s something special about taking an everyday object and making it uniquely yours.

In more recent years, I found myself stenciling tote bags for friends, which felt like a natural extension of that same impulse. More recently, while visiting the Parker Thatch office, I came across a giant canvas tote screen-printed with the word BEACH in oversized blue letters—but upside down. I immediately fell in love with it and asked if I could keep it.

What I loved most was the story behind it. Back when the team (Matt) was hand-pressing letters onto each bag for every customer, this particular tote was created during one of those late-night production sessions. The upside-down print was technically a mistake, the kind of thing that happens when you’re working into the wee hours. Sometimes the things that make an object special are the imperfections, the evidence of a human hand. We’re actually in the process of reissuing this exact tote, upside-down BEACH and all, so stay tuned.

As much as I appreciate a beautifully designed bag, sometimes the simplest, most functional version is the best one. That’s part of why I’ve always loved the iconic canvas tote from L.L.Bean. Originally designed by Leon Leonwood Bean to transport ice blocks from cars to home ice chests, durability wasn’t a feature—it was the entire point. The heavy-duty oatmeal-colored canvas, double-layered bottom, and reinforced construction were all engineered to withstand serious weight and contain the meltwater from the ice. It could reportedly hold up to 500 pounds. Not bad for a bag that has since become a style icon.

Which brings me to today’s roundup: some of my favorite canvas totes, one of the most useful and hardworking items you can own. What I love is seeing all the different interpretations of this classic form. There’s the original, still remarkably affordable after all these years. There are versions with extra pockets, clever details, and a few more bells and whistles. And of course, there are luxury takes on the canvas tote, if that’s your thing.

At its core, a tote is a simple object. The function is already there. The fun comes in choosing the colors, materials, proportions, and personal touches that make it feel like yours. And that’s probably why I’ll never stop collecting them.

1. L.L. Bean Tokyo Edition

2. Tibi’s Belted Collab with L.L. Bean

3. Phoebe Philo’s luxurious canvas tote

4. Cow Hair Trimmed Tote

5. Leather Trimmed L.L. Bean Canvas Tote

6. Mini Merci Colorblocked Cross-body Tote

7. Alex Mill’s Tote now comes in a mini size (and you can get a hand-painted monogram)

8. Mini Boat Tote (also here is L.L. Bean’s version)

9. Merci Tote in Pink (and it comes in many more colors)

10. A North-South Colorblocked Tote

11. Celine’s Bucket Tote is high on my wish list

12. Bright Red Canvas Zippered Tote

13. A limited edition Japan x L.L. Bean that is sadly no longer available

14. An Extra-Large Bull Denim Tote

15. Phoebe Philo’s Cabas

16. Kassl Editions Piped Tote

17. A Cheap and Cheerful Functional Canvas Tote

18. Kule’s Canvas Tote

19. Celine from Phoebe Philo Era

20. I love a screenprinted tote from my local Hardware Store

21. A tote I stenciled for my friend Olivia at Chava Studio

22. Hermès Cavalier Tote

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