From the viral Trader Joe’s totes to the dozens of canvas alternatives, tote bags in L.A. have become their own type of status symbol
A few things can always be counted on in Los Angeles: iced matcha einspänners, the flip-flop-and-jean combo, wired headphones and, most commonly, the tote bag. They’re everywhere – from Pilates studios to bookstores to little bars in Silverlake – and they’re not going away.
Tote bags, which were created as a more sustainable alternative to disposable shopping bags, have transformed into something fashionable in themselves. They’re no longer just functional, but trendy, collectable and now somewhat of a status symbol.
The craze over the Trader Joe’s mini-tote bag is a clear example: in July, shoppers lined up for hours before shops opened for one thing and one thing only – the grocery chain’s signature tote bag. A $2.99 mini striped bag became an international fad, with buyers reselling them for 10 to 100 times the price. And people were buying them!
These cheap, $2.99 bags were no longer cheap or just a bag. They were limited edition. How strange a fate for an object meant to carry vegetables and chips and spicy mayo and salsa.
If you’re starting to have FOMO about the Trader Joe’s bags, I have good news for you. As of Sept. 30, Trader Joe’s is selling limited Halloween edition bags. Although I’m not quite sure how many groceries will fit, it’s the perfect bag for trick-or-treating! Grab while supplies last.
View the “Trick-or-Treat Mini Canvas Totes” here!
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More than anything, the tote craze reflects L.A. line culture. When something is exclusive, people are willing to wait. This goes for pop-ups, new menu items and collaborations. Everyone wants to be there, without necessarily caring where the there is. They just don’t want to miss it.
Unlike a purse, tote bags don’t try hard. They’re careless, nonchalant, casual and functional. You can throw in your laptop, lipgloss, hand sanitizer and a granola bar, slide on a pair of shoes, and call it a day.
Or, you can spend just as much time curating an outfit and still grab the tote instead of a nicer one. Put in effort, but still look effortless. In L.A., this level of simple and nonchalant has become its own status symbol and type of aesthetic.
A tote bag can say anything. A tote from an archaic bookstore shows people you read, without actually reading a book. The classic, alo tote is perfect for a put-together pilates aesthetic, even if you just bring it to get an iced coffee at Cafe Luxxe. A vintage record label tote suggests your good taste. The bag adds to your personal branding – it becomes a part of it.
This is part of what has made the tote such a perfect social media accessory. It can hint at your personality without you needing to add narration. Or can become part of a soft-launch: the second most interesting thing to whoever is holding your hand. Tote bags are lowkey. And Los Angeles isn’t running short of them.
Tote bags are given at restaurants, clothing stores, Pilates studios, museums and farmers’ markets. Much like lighters and matchboxes, they are cool, simple and actually useful. Although many of us have more than we need, our collections keep growing.
Tote bags lie in the gray area between fashion and anti-fashion. They aren’t meant to be a status symbol, which in doing so, makes them almost as effective as one. Carrying around a designer brand announces just that: that you have a designer bag. Carrying a beat-up tote adds mystery.
Perhaps this is why the Trader Joe’s tote bag seems so ridiculous. People know what it is, and how much it costs, and yet they are still willing to wait hours in a line for it. It doesn’t matter how much they’ll actually use it. Once people decide something is desirable, practicality becomes secondary.
In a city obsessed with looking effortless, maybe the tote truly is the perfect accessory. It’s functional enough to prove you didn’t spend time thinking about it, but recognizable enough to prove you did.
