Everything You Need To Know About Tote Bags

There’s some questions we get asked regularly here at Super Cool Totes, and some that the internet asks on a regular basis. In this blog we clear up some of the most commonly asked questions and queries about tote bags. Let us know in the comments below if there’s a question you think would be useful on this list.

CAN TOTE BAGS BE WASHED?

It is generally recommended that you don’t wash tote bags, as they make shrink. However if you buy a pre-washed or pre-shrunk bag the likelihood of it being washable increases. Wash-ability also depends on the printing type on the bag. Most screen and transfer prints will survive a wash whereas some stick on transfers will not. As a general rule of thumb it is recommended to wipe clean only, and not machine wash. It is always best practice to check the washing instructions with the manufacturer beforehand.  

CAN YOU FIT A LAPTOP IN A TOTE BAG?

In most cases, yes you can fit a laptop inside a tote bag. A standard size tote bag will generally comfortably fit up to a 17″ laptop inside. It is important to remember that laptops quote the screen size primarily, whereas you need to check the actual dimensions of the machine instead. Screen size refers to the diagonal measurements between the top and bottom opposing corners, whereas the product dimensions will give you an exact sizing you need.

ARE TOTE BAGS POPULAR?

Yes, very. The rise in the popularity in tote bags can be attributed to a variety of reasons. Firstly, many countries have either banned the use of plastic bags, or have introduced new laws that stipulate that supermarkets and stores charge for single use plastic bags. This is to curb the usage of single use plastics, which has risen sharply in recent years. Attitudes to pollution and recycling have evolved, which has lead to more aware consumers looking for a more sustainable solutions. These environmental and legislative factors are also coupled with the increase in businesses that offer personalisation services to the increasing personalisation market. Consumers now have a huge choice of printing services that offer one off printing on an ever increasing range of products. Tote bags are a popular personalised product because they are easy to print on and they are suitable for displaying artwork and graphics. They also have the billboard factor because they are used daily and carried everywhere the user goes. 

ARE TOTE BAGS RECYCLABLE?

Whilst cotton is fully biodegradable and recyclable, access to cotton recycling facilities varies depending on location. It is important to check the construction of a tote bag to understand how it can be disposed of. Many fashion brands create tote bags that are lined or coated in non-recyclable materials making them non-recyclable.

CAN YOU BRING TOTE BAGS ON A PLANE?

Unfortunately this questions doesn’t have a concrete answer because each airline has it’s own baggage policy. If you are bringing a tote bag with a few items that are not bulging, you should be ok with this in addition to your standard carry on bag, but be prepared to have a backup plan if the airline takes issue with this. Leave a little extra space in your hold luggage or cabin bag to compensate if you run into problems. Restrictions have generally tightened in recent years due to security reasons and airlines maximising their profits at every opportunity, so be prepared for the worst to save you headaches at the airport.

ARE TOTE BAGS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?

It depends on how much you use the bag. For instance, it can be argued that using a plastic bag one is better for the environment that using a tote bag once, however this changes as a tote bag is used over time. Reusing a tote bag as your daily shopping bag will offset the increased manufacturing resource consumption eventually. The idea is to buy a tote bag that can be used for a long period of time, instead of regularly acquiring and discarding plastic bags. From a recycling stand point tote bags are better for the environment than plastic, however the resources used to create a cotton tote bag are higher than plastic, making it an investment piece that will eventually pay off.

HOW DO YOU PRINT TOTE BAGS?

Cotton tote bags are usually very easy to print on because the surface is typically flat and very smooth. Print companies will use a variety of printing techniques, picking the most suitable method depending on cost, quantity and finish. If you are buying  a single or small run of tote bags, transfer printing or direct to garment (DTG) are the most common print methods. They have the lowest cost per item for small order print runs. For larger runs, the print company might opt for using screen printing. Screen printing is suitable for larger print runs as the cost per print is much cheaper.

HOW ARE TOTE BAGS MADE?

Tote bags are typically sewn by hand similarly to how garments like t-shirts are made. The cotton used will go through a number of treatment and preparation processes before being in a construction ready state. They will then be sewn together with a stitch around 3 edges of the front and back panel, followed by attaching the handles securely to the front and back. It’s a fairly simple process, but a strong stitch is necessary to ensure the longevity of the product.

HOW BIG ARE TOTE BAGS?

‘Tote bag’ is a collective term that covers a wide range of products, but cotton tote bags do have a more common sizing that is roughly 38cm W x 42cm H, varying slightly but usually the bag will be slightly larger in height than it is in width.

HOW DO YOU PERSONALISE TOTE BAGS?

There are various personalisation and printing services that allow you to customise and add your own print to a tote bag. Super Cool Totes allows you to either design your own design, or personalise an existing design, making it perfect for those who want to create a completely new design and those who want to personalise a design quickly. 

WHERE TO BUY TOTE BAGS?

There are many companies selling tote bags, so it may take some searching to find exactly what you are looking for. We recommend to search for a more specific term to get a better result. For instance, searching for ‘Tote Bags’ will yield a lot of results, but the chances of find what you want straight away are lower. If you want to customise your own tote bag, we recommend searching for ‘Personalised Tote Bags‘ or if you need bags for a specific occasion, try that instead. Searching for ‘Promo tote bags’ or ‘Teacher tote bags’ will get you a lot closer to what you require.

WHAT ARE TOTE BAGS USED FOR?

Tote Bag is a collective term for just about any kind of bag with handles, so the uses of tote bag varies greatly from product to product. The most common use of tote bags are for carrying daily items i.e. everything you might need for the day. They are also very commonly used as shopping bags, as plastic bags are becoming increasingly less common in supermarkets and stores.

WHAT IS A TOTE BAG?

Tote Bag is a collective term for just about any bag that has handles. So handbags, weekend bags and cotton bags can all be referred to as totes. Cotton tote bags are the most common kind of tote bags and will be generally be cited as such the most regularly. 

ARE TOTE BAGS SUITABLE FOR TEACHERS?

Yes, tote bags for teachers are one of the most common categories of personalised tote bags, as they are extremely useful for school use, and make for an excellent personalised gift.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A TOTE BAG AND A HANDBAG?

Whilst handbags can be classed as tote bags, people will generally refer to them differently. A handbag is typically a higher cost item made from materials like leather and plastic alternatives, and is more of a fashion item. Tote bags are usually constructed from cotton and are used more casually.

ARE TOTE BAGS SUITABLE FOR SCHOOL?

Yes, tote bags are great for school because it’s sizing will fit items like books and laptops well. Students will often use a tote bag in addition to a backpack, with the tote bag carrying items that need to be accessed quickly and more often.

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