What is a fun fact about tote bags?

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.



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In the United States, the tote bag frenzy dates back to the 1940s with the introduction of L.L. Bean's Boat Bag (1944).

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It's Versatile It's one of the few bags on the market that is truly versatile with many options for usage. Tote bags are available in a great variety of patterns and designs and are made from different materials, such as canvas, leather, cloth, and plastic, among other things.

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It Started with a Word Popularized in the 17th century, the verb “tote” meant “to carry by hand” or, less gracefully put, “to lug.” While tote bags are traditionally made of canvas, there are no actual limitations to what a tote bag is made of. As long as it can be lugged around, it's a tote bag!

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Although the lifespan of a tote bag typically depends on the material, weight and use of the bag, the heavier duty ones tend to last at least a year of heavy use if not longer with light use. Fabric bags like canvas or jute tote bags are also longer lasting than other alternatives like non-woven or polyester.

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