The origin of tote bags is debatable. For some, it all started in Paris in the 19th century. Its purpose was to respond to the needs of men away on business trips. For others, it began in the United States in the 1940s when the company L.L. Bean created bags for transporting ice. Hippies made a basic accessory out of them for day to day living in the 1960s, then the fashion industry and luxury brands got hold of them to make bags both practical and elegant at the same time. Today, the disappearance of the plastic bag has turned the tote bag into an even more indispensable accessory.
THE TOTE: A VERY FUNCTIONAL BAG
The tote bag exists in multiple styles and sizes; in canvas, leather, and, indeed in other materials such as recycled plastic; however, it has always been known as a voluminous bag that is mainly carried in the hand thanks to its two large handles. The smallest tote bags are often fashion accessories, but most of them allow you to carry clothes, groceries, files and portable computers, or other more or less sizable items. The leather tote bag is the preferred choice for work and for going out. For shopping at the grocery store and for carrying food, the most suitable would be the canvas tote.
BLEU DE CHAUFFE WOMEN’S LEATHER TOTE BAGS
We offer two assortments of women’s leather tote bags: the urban and “chic” Origami, and the elegant Dalva business bags.
Origami is a sleek women’s line, that, as its name suggests, allows you to change the form of the bag and thus increase its volume. This line exists in three sizes: S, M and L. If the Origami S handbag to be considered a tote bag, the Origami M, and especially the L are sufficiently generous in volume to carry objects such as clothes. The tote bag Origami is a city bag that can be carried in the hand or over the shoulder thanks to its strap.
The leather Dalva tote bag is an elegant woman’s business bag with a large capacity whose inside compartment contains a zippered pocket for a 13-inch portable computer as well as a second zippered pocket for telephone, keys or other small daily objects. Thanks to its detachable strap, it can be carried in the hand, worn over the shoulder or across the chest.
THE BAZAR… THE PERFECT UNISEX CANVAS TOTE BAG
We have created the Bazar tote bag to meet all the needs of modern life, for both men and women. We wanted a tote bag that was deep and voluminous enough to carry clothes, sporting goods, and groceries, but also strong enough to carry heavy objects, and that was also elegant, yet relaxed so that it could be used for work as well as for going out on the weekend.
The Bazar is a generously-sized tote bag (25.2 litres) made from coated cotton canvas and decorated with the magnificent stylized Bleu de Chauffe logo. The leather straps are adjustable, allowing it to be carried in the hand or over the shoulder. It is large enough to fit a 17-inch portable computer.
THE ZOOM: 48H WEEKEND TRAVEL BAG MEETS TOTE
The Zoom is our most generously-sized travel bag. Its interior capacity is 39.6 liters, to which you can add the large outside pocket. With its workwear design and its minimalist design, this large leather tote bag is great for weekend trips or short getaways. Elegant and functional, it can be carried on the plane as hand luggage. It has a large outside pocket concealed under a flap with quick-access fastening for your 17-inch laptop, papers or magazines.
When you buy a Bleu de Chauffe tote, you are guaranteed a bag of exceptional quality, designed exclusively from vegetable tanned European leather (as opposed to the more commonly toxic chrome-dyed leather) and French coated canvas. Every Bleu de Chauffe bag is entirely created in our workshop in France by a single craftsperson whose signature appears inside. Unlike bags produced on production lines, our totes are made to last and will become even more beautiful over time.