How to customise your tote bag

Symbolising effortless and casual style, the Tote Bag is an alluring draw for indie bookstore fans and an eco-friendly shopping companion. This versatile bag has evolved from its humble beginnings to become a hallmark of fashion houses such as Balenciaga, Prada, Louis Vuitton and others, but it still fails to replicate the effortless charm of a canvas bag adorned with carefully selected quotes or illustrations.

Actress, singer and fashion icon Jane Birkin was accompanied on every trip by her woven basket, which was large enough to store everything she needed. She scandalised Parisian fashion snobs at the time by proudly presenting her looks next to her wicker basket.

What she loved most about the famous basket was its size, which allowed her to carry cigarettes, books, sunglasses, gloves, flowers and later snacks for her daughters without having to meticulously organise or plan everything. However, the inflexible material could be a deterrent, which is why the modern version is made of canvas.

The history of the tote bag

In the 1980s, the tote bag became popular among city dwellers of modest means. It all started when The Strand, a New York bookstore founded in 1927 to promote the creative experience of buying books in New York, introduced their design for a tote bag. With a simple bag made of natural cotton duck canvas and a lining, the first Strand bag was introduced in 1980. It bore the name and address of the shop and the distinctive slogan "18 Miles of Books" This paved the way for all kinds of independent bookstores, neighbourhood shops and artisanal brands to create their own simple and essential bags to share their brand's vision.

The bag is in every way the most personal part of the outfit, instantly expressing the interests and passions of the wearer. People began to realise that a tote bag isn't only practical, but also serves to stand out from the crowd and convey one's personality non-verbally.

How to personalise your tote bag

Painting your tote bag with tempera paints

Even if painting isn't your primary skill, you can paint your tote bag with tempera paints to recreate an image or logo you cherish with your own touch. To make your work look cleaner and more professional, tape off the area you want to paint so you don't spill paint. Of course, fabric tempera paints are available at affordable prices, and if you think you won't reuse them, this is also an activity you can do with your friends or partner for a slightly different day out.

On the hunt for unique pins and ribbons

This is where you need a good eye and a pinch of luck: we recommend you look for the most unusual pins at flea markets or vintage shops. From unique shapes to bright colours, in different sizes and designs, pins always add a personal and thoughtful touch to your look. If you want your bag to have a very feminine look while still remaining an accessory, you can make bows with ribbons you picked out at a haberdashery or saved from a gift box. All you need is a safety pin. There are also countless unique buttons you can glue to the centre of the bow, some even with designer logos.

Always be safe with a self-defence keyring

As useful as this accessory may be, we hope you never have to actually use it. Self-defence key rings are becoming increasingly popular with women: the idea started with some small businesses and then went on to mass sale. They usually consist of a pointed object, pepper spray, a few tags to hide the true nature of the keychain, and an "alarm" that makes a loud sound to warn you. It might be a good idea to attach it to the handles of your canvas bag so that it's immediately at hand.

Even though some bags on the market are really beautiful and look like they were made just for you, a customised bag adds the finishing touch to your accessory and most importantly, no one can have a bag that looks exactly like yours. On your mark, get set, go... The only rule is that you should choose a sturdy canvas so that you can use your bag for many years.