These days, totes are everywhere. You see them on TikTok, you see them being sold at virtually every retailer, and you even see celebrities like Harry Styles using them.
You might see tote bags everywhere and wonder to yourself, what is the fuss about these bags? Why are they everywhere right now?
It’s true; tote bags are everywhere right now — and for good reason! Though they are more unconventional and a bit more casual than your typical purse, tote bags are practical, stylish, and comfortable. You won’t regret joining the tote bag bandwagon; besides, it’s a cool place to be!
There is so much to know about tote bags, so continue reading to get the full rundown on what a tote bag actually is and why you should totally grab a cute, eco-friendly tote bag ASAP!
Where Do Tote Bags Come From?
Before we break down the functionality and style of the tote bag, we should start from the very beginning. Where did totes even come from? Tote bags are very hot in the fashion scene right now, but they had to come from somewhere. Strap in for a brief but interesting history of the tote bag’s origins.
Before tote bags became tote bags, they were called “ice bags.” L.L. Bean essentially invented the first tote bag back in the 1940s when they began selling their ice bag, which was intended to carry and transport ice and wood. These bags were big and sturdy and were made from canvas with two straps — similar to our modern tote.
By the 1980s, the ice bag had evolved into what we now recognize as the tote bag. The 80s tote was created out of a lighter, softer cotton canvas. It was meant for more casual outings and not just for outdoorsy people.
Eventually, the tote became a very popular casual bag. People loved how well it could be used for many different occasions and still be a practical choice. Since then, the tote bag has been replicated over and over by various brands and retailers across the globe.
The Versatility of Tote Bags
Totes are the bags of the future. Their versatility means that they are appropriate in almost any situation and are typically more practical than your average purse.
Tote bags are built to be durable and comfortable. Whether you’re going for a stroll with your friends, going on a grocery shopping trip, or even packing for a long weekend, your tote bag will come in handy.
Read on to learn some of our favorite functions of the tote bag to see just how versatile this bag really is.
Your New Reusable Shopping Bag
We are all eerily aware of the detrimental effects that single-use plastic bags have on our environment. As we turn away from these bags, it’s time to find better, more sustainable alternatives.
That’s where the tote bag comes in.
Though in their original concept, single-use plastic shopping bags were intended to be practical, useful tools to transport our grocery hauls, single-use bags end up polluting our oceans and landfills and ultimately cause more harm than good. Instead of these single-use plastic bags, you can utilize a stylish tote bag to transport your groceries.
And you don’t have to let your tote use be limited to just grocery trips. Regardless of the kind of errands you’re running, a tote bag is an ideal accessory to carry all of your new purchases.
Whether you’re restocking your produce, picking up a prescription from the pharmacy, or even just going on an indulgent shopping trip to the mall — a tote bag is perfect for transporting your purchases. Go shopping in style and help improve the environment when you bring a tote bag on your next shopping trip.
On-the-Go Essential
Are you always on the go? Do you find yourself constantly going on little outings with friends or taking walks around the park and need the ideal bag to fit and transport all of your necessary belongings and accessories? Then a sturdy tote bag is just what you’ve been missing!
Tote bags are larger in size than most purses and tend to be more lightweight and durable. This means you can carry almost anything along with you on your travels without worrying about potentially damaging your bag or not fitting all of your items.
If you are planning on taking a trip and need either a carry-on with easy access to your necessities or a simple bag to transport your belongings for the weekend, look no further than a tote bag.
You will be able to fit all of the essentials for your trip in your tote bag, all while having quick access to them on your journey. For instance, if you find yourself bringing a tote on your next flight, you will have immediate access to your phone charger, a book, a sweater, and any other item you might need while you are sitting on the plane for hours.
Whether you need it for your day-to-day life or even on your long travels, a tote bag is guaranteed to help you in the long run. Totes are practical and convenient for every situation.
Stay Stylish With a Tote
There is no accessory that can tie an outfit together quite like a bag. For centuries, men and women alike have carried bags not only for practicality, but also to show off their unique, chic style. While tote bags are not going to altogether replace your designer bags, that doesn’t mean they do not have a place in your wardrobe.
In fact, totes are the perfect accessory to complement your casual, day-to-day fashion. Tote bags provide an excellent opportunity to explore and express yourself.
Often, totes will be decorated with graphic designs depicting a location you have traveled to, a cause you are passionate about, or even beautiful and cool artwork that you want to display alongside your outfit. These unique designs allow individuals to show off their interests while exploring their sense of style — all while remaining functional.
You can also find tote bags in an array of fabulous colors to mix and match with your wardrobe. KOKOLU totes have gorgeous, vibrant colors that allow you to accessorize and enhance any outfit.
If you tend to wear neutral colors but can appreciate accessories with a vibrant pop, you should check out our Yellow KOKOLU Daily Eight Tote Bag to add some pizzazz to your closet.
If you are a fan of light, feminine shades and want to show off that aspect of your bag-wear style, try out the Lavender Limited Edition Daily Eight Tote Bag. This lavender tote is a lovely pastel shade that will rest comfortably on your shoulder and make you look chic as you go about your daily activities.
The tote bag varieties are endless. Whichever color you choose, you will look stylish while adding a playful flair to your casual wardrobe.
Built With Comfort in Mind
When it comes to bags, we tend to forget our comfort and instead focus only on style and practicality. With tote bags, however, you can look stylish and cool without sacrificing your comfort and straining your shoulders or your back.
There is nothing more frustrating than lugging around a bag that’s too small and crammed with items uncomfortably pressing against your body. And no one likes a bag that has loose straps which repeatedly slip off of your shoulder. Even worse are bags with bulky, uncomfortable straps that cut into your shoulder or armpit.
You won’t have these problems with a KOKOLU tote. Our KOKOLU tote bags are designed to carry the most stuff while providing maximum comfort.
Instead of over-stuffing a bag too small to contain your goods and carrying bags that leave your shoulders and backs aching for days, you can carry a stylish and comfortable tote bag that will fit all of your belongings no matter what the occasion is, without causing any discomfort.
Generally, totes are canvas bags created to be lightweight and flexible. However, at KOKOLU, we have taken bag-wearing comfort to the next level. KOKOLU tote bags have an added layer of comfort due to their special structure and nylon-like fabric.
This fabric ensures superior flexibility, shape, and comfort, and the best part is that it’s made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. KOKOLU bags will not wear you down. They will always rest comfortably on your shoulder or sit comfortably between your fingers.
KOKOLU tote bags make it so that you don’t have to compromise your comfort for style. You can look trendy and fashionable, all while ensuring that your comfort comes first.
Sustainability in a Bag
Over the past several decades, we have witnessed the drastic, detrimental effects of pollution and climate change on the environment. Unfortunately, excessive amounts of waste end up in landfills and oceans. Often, that excessive pollution is caused by our own overuse of single-use items like plastic bags and plastic bottles.
This shows why eco-friendly totes like our KOKOLU Daily Eight Tote Bags are necessary now more than ever.
No More Single-Use Bags
The simple act of utilizing a tote bag can improve our planet. Wherever we shop, we often leave the store with handfuls of single-use bags that will end up being thrown away.
When you bring a tote bag along to the checkout line, you are preventing more single-use plastic bags from contributing to landfills and polluting oceans. Even though this may seem like a small act, it is actually huge when you take into consideration that it takes many years for plastic particles to decompose. That’s years of plastic waste you are helping to prevent.
KOKOLU Totes Are Made Sustainably
Aside from waste reduction, when you shop for KOKOLU tote bags, you are truly committing to the betterment of our planet. Every KOKOLU tote is created with sustainable resources. Instead of sourcing synthetic materials and toxic fibers, we utilize 100% recycled plastics and convert them into bags, giving that plastic a new life.
Even our dyeing process is more sustainable. We use a dope dying process to create our gorgeous tote colors, which reduces water waste and water pollution.
KOKOLU ensures that your bag will remain sustainable throughout every stage of its lifecycle. Once your bag reaches the end of its life, instead of just throwing it away, you can recycle it, and those materials can take on yet another form instead of taking up space in a landfill.
Superior Durability
Unfortunately, many items these days are designed to break quickly so that you can replace them sooner. KOKOLU tote bags, on the other hand, are designed to last. The fibers and resources used to create your trusty KOKOLU tote are strong and durable, so your accessory will last you years to come.
Totes: The It-Bags
The tote bag has come a long way from its origins as an ice bag. Now, individuals of all genders and identities can express themselves and show off their unique style with a cute tote bag, all while being practical and sustainable.
Tote bags truly are the it-bags of the century. They are a functionally versatile, stylish, and comfortable accessory that can also be extremely eco-friendly. Whatever your individual style looks like and whatever your plans are, we can guarantee that a tote bag is only going to elevate your experiences.
Sources:
From Birth To Ban: A History of the Plastic Shopping Bag | UNEP
Effects | Facts – Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet | NASA
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