Gen Z Staple

| By: AINA MARZIA |

They’re everywhere, and I mean everywhere. From coffee shops to grocery stores, teens with claw clips and Crocs aren’t missing a chance to make a statement, even if it’s on a canvas tote bag.

Totes are nothing new. For years, humans have been using them to lug items and stash away groceries. While it is blurry when these totes became a staple piece, it is widely argued that it was the L.L Bean cotton tote in the ‘60s that proved a simple “ice bag” could be used to do a variety of household chores and shop in the city. In the ‘90s, totes started popping up in pop culture. Seen on celebrities like Princess Diana and it-girl Jennifer Aniston, tote bags became the epitome of casual fashion. Still, the canvas totes we know today stayed out of the picture, it wasn’t until The New Yorker started giving free canvas totes with their subscription in 2014 that they became a status symbol, especially for young people.

Tote bags’ popularity is largely owed to their apparent sustainability, practicality, and of course, ability to seamlessly convey a message.

To Gen Z, they aren’t just fashion statements; they humanize the wearer. Instead of “Hey, that’s a person,” people think, “Hey, that’s a person who has a really cool tote.” They serve the same purpose as window displays: you can get a glimpse into someone’s personality without having to actually approach them.

Because of the way canvas bags are designed, consumers associate tote bags with an aesthetic.

“Tote bags fit a specific aesthetic for our generation,” says Ari Leeah, a 17-year-old. “Following a minimalistic sense of fashion, with, you know, earth tones, plants, tea and coffee, tote bags,” which makes their wearability more than a statement, but a lifestyle.

Olive Wagler, a high school junior, mentions how the bag is functional for her everyday needs.

“I find myself wearing my tote bag even when I’m just carrying around my phone, wallet, and lipstick,” says Wagler.

Wagler owns two store-bought tote bags but also enjoys making totes for her friends.

“I like to knit and crochet a lot, and tote bags are one of the things I’ve made the most. So far, I’ve made ten.” Their favorite is one they made with cotton yarn. “It’s checkered red and pink, and it’s very sturdy and useful for heavier objects, which I love.”

Another Gen Zer, Sara Antowan, attests to how practical they are.

“Tote bags have become a statement piece for Gen Z because of their practicality. They are super cute, add to an outfit, and on top of that, they are very handy for carrying many things instead of only a few things in a small purse.”

They are also inclusive, as totes aren’t preestablished gender accessories like purses and wallets.

“It has allowed people of all genders to use a bag without feeling that they will be judged, which I think many parts of Gen Z can appreciate,” Antowan says.

Some even use tote bags to walk the line between gender and make their appearance more androgynous. “If I am wearing something more feminine, I tend to gravitate towards tote bags because it makes the fit more androgynous,” says Wagler, “ I enjoy the counterbalance between the two.” It also helps to dress down an outfit. “If I am wearing something fancy, I’ll go for a purse, but I love the laid-backness of a tote bag.”

It seems that everyone and their mother is using them – literally. Wagler’s most used tote bag, a tye-dye print number, was actually their mom’s. “Me and my mom share a lot of the same style, and I just started stealing it from her. I just liked the convenience of being able to carry everything.”

Leah explains how it is both an artistic outlet for their mother and a practical carry-on.

“My mom has been a printmaker for years, and when I was little, tote bags were one of the articles she would use to test prints on. She’s a dance teacher, and so they’ve always been used in our house; in her case, to lug around dance shoes, tape, and changes of clothes.”

There is also the narrative of totes being ecofriendly, which is why younger generations are drawn to them. “I think that people, just thinking that they are making an effort to help the environment, makes them feel more secure or better about themselves. Wearing a tote bag is a symbol of that for young people,” Leah says.

Companies like EcoRight, a sustainable accessory brand, note the rise in sales of the item.

“Most of our target audience has been Gen Zs; our consumers see tote bags as a personal style statement and a chance to do good to our planet. It’s a win-win all around,” says Udit Sood, a spokesperson for EcoRight explaining how environmental awareness is one of the biggest reasons why the generation is obsessed with the bag. “Believe it or not, they are more aware of environmental issues and ready to take steps toward making things right than any other,” he adds.

March Launch Party

Guests, lawyers, and animal lovers gathered at The Great American Steakhouse on Airway to celebrate the release of our March issue, celebrating animal rescue and conservation that also featured El Paso’s leading attorneys.