The tote bag's name traces to West African languages: tota means pick up, and tuta means carry. The first totes were worn around the waist, LL Bean's 1940 canvas carry became the boat bag, and the Birkin line today counts over 200,000 bags in circulation.
Where does the word tote come from?
The origin of the word tote is to carry, with roots dating back to the 17th century. In the West African language Kikongo, tota means to pick up. In Kimbundu, tuta means carry and load, and in Swahili, tuta means pick up and carry. The first tote bags were originally worn around the waist, and if your tote was embellished or embroidered, it was a status symbol of wealth. Back in the day, the embellishment itself was the message.
How did the tote evolve into a fashion bag?
In 1940, LL Bean created its first tote bag to carry ice and wood. This practical canvas bag was made to last and is now known as a boat bag because of its broad shape. In the 1960s, Bonnie Cashin started a tote collection called Cashin Carry, now known as Coach: spacious, colorful, beautiful, modern and made of leather.
Then came the Birkin, which is Hermès' version of a tote. In 1983, Jane Birkin was on a flight from Paris sitting next to the CEO of Hermès and explained her difficulty finding the perfect bag, larger than a Kelly but smaller than carry-on luggage. The conversation began the Birkin bag, the first high-end designer bag in design and functionality. It was not an initial success because of the cost, but it became a must-have from the 1990s, and there are now over 200,000 Birkin bags in circulation. Which is why the tote and the Birkin are closer relatives than most shoppers realize. Through every era, the tote's purpose stayed the same: carry all your essentials.
Which totes carry the torch today?
The modern picks span the full range of the form: the Chanel Vintage Shopper Tote and the Chanel Deauville Tote, the Prada Tote, the Gucci Soho Tote, the Dior Book Tote and the Goyard Saint Louis XL Tote. Six picks, six ways of carrying the same idea.
Why did the tote outlast every trend?
Because the brief never changed: carry what you need, and make it look effortless. From ice and wood in 1940 to laptops and boarding passes today, the tote adapted to each decade's cargo without changing its job. The embellished waist bags of the 17th century and the chain-strapped shoppers of today are the same invention with different finishing.
Frequently asked questions
What does the word tote mean?
Tote means to carry. The word has roots in the 17th century and in West African languages: tota means pick up, and tuta means carry and load.
Who invented the tote bag?
LL Bean created its first canvas tote bag in 1940 to carry ice and wood. In the 1960s, Bonnie Cashin brought the leather tote to fashion with the Cashin Carry collection, now Coach.
Which designer tote should I buy?
From the Chanel Vintage Shopper and Deauville to the Prada tote, Gucci Soho, Dior Book Tote and Goyard Saint Louis XL, the six picks above cover every carrying need.
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