TEN DESIGNER TOTE BAGS FOR DAILY LUXURY
The humble tote bag has been raised to new heights by designers like Marc Jacobs, Bottega Veneta, ISSEY MIYAKE, and more.
Tote bags are usually executed in tough canvas with two woven handles, making them one of the most simple and fuss-free carry options. They’re so simple, in fact, that they’ve become ubiquitous, almost throwaway items—with modern households containing at least 20 of them bundled into a cupboard, never to be used again.
Luxury fashion has something to say about that. Replacing shredded canvas for high-end leather or suede, and putting sleek branding in place of big prints, designer tote bags raise the humble design to new heights, making it an accessory that will never be folded up and forgotten.
The best part of designer tote bags is that, despite their new, luxe personalities, they don’t lose the versatility that has made tote bags such an omnipresent force in modern style. Throw in your book, a water bottle, a scarf, and whatever else your day might require, and hit the road with a more polished aesthetic.
Featured In This Image: Sky High Farm Workwear tote
Not all designer tote bags are made from premium leather. Sky High Farm Workwear is one of the most interesting workwear brands of the moment and, abiding by its form-meets-function mindset, delivers this black tote bag in heavy cotton twill. Bold prints stand out from the black backdrop for a visual punch.
Featured In This Image: Anna Sui tote
Anna Sui’s use of embroidery and contrasting fabrics is a specialty for the designer. It’s on full display here, with the sherpa tote bag that features an embroidered floral design throughout.
Featured In This Image: We11done tote
Part of the reason that Korean fashion brands are so popular in luxury fashion right now is because of the unbridled creativity across the board. We11done’s Pocket Touch Tote bag appears to have been cut from apparel extras, with a V-neck, halter straps, and pocket detailing to the body.
Featured In This Image: Bottega Veneta tote
With a long history in leather and suede production, Bottega Veneta’s experimentation with ‘The Medium’ makes sense. In recent seasons, the Italian powerhouse has extended its offering of high-end leather pieces that don’t look like they’re made from leather. This ‘The Medium’ tote bag is cut from pure calfskin but, in its tan colorway and with features like rolled handles, it pretends to be a simple brown paper bag.
Featured In This Image: Isabel Marant tote
Many designer tote bags bring a range of additional qualities to the table. The Small Yenky tote from Isabel Marant, for example, has a wide base which makes for a more structured take on the tote.
Featured In This Image: Black Comme des Garçons tote
As the name suggests, Black Comme des Garçons specializes in a dark monochromatic palette, accentuating the need for texture. Texture is delivered in abundance here, with the shopping bag silhouette constructed from chunky tweed.
Featured In This Image: A.P.C. tote
A.P.C.’s archetypically Parisian understated style makes it a perfect candidate for everyday accessories. The Maiko Medium shopper is a high-quality black leather tote bag with handles as well as a shoulder strap—a detail that often goes amiss in the world of totes.
Featured In This Image: BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE tote
BAO BAO ISSEY MIYAKE’s geometric tiles are an instantly recognizable feature. Like the designer’s famous pleats, the design offers strength, malleability, and refinement in equal measure, meaning that this tote bag can take a beating without losing its shine.
Featured In This Image: Marc Jacobs tote
When it comes to designer tote bags, Marc Jacobs’s ‘The Leather Mini Tote Bag’ is a stalwart. The iconic design treads the line between a luxury handbag and an everyday tote bag, effectively crystallizing the exact purpose of a luxury tote.
Featured In This Image: BAPE tote
A Bathing Ape’s 1st Camo details the structural bands that frame this canvas tote bag. While it carries the hallmarks of a standard tote—canvas build, minimal detailing—it’s made to a higher standard, with fixtures like a press-stud fastening to the top as well as a shoulder strap and patch pocket options within.
- Date: December 15, 2023
