Sustainable Tote Bags Made in California

Until now, the term “cool tote bags” has felt like a bit of an oxymoron, but that seems to be changing. A handbag style you typically associate with your hobo neighbor at the supermarket will no longer only spark a practical image in your mind, but also a quite fashion-forward one. With sustainability taking the front seat now more than ever, environmentally friendly tote bags are totally in.

Sitting somewhere between the utilitarian mom bag and modern mini bag, the tote hits just the right mark—it’s practical, it’s stylish, it’s a must-have. Today, sustainable tote bags serve as powerful accessories that represent mindfulness and style, and we’re all for it.

Keep it casual, practical, and super fun with the best tote bags you’ll find on the market—carry your essentials in style effortlessly.

Eco-Friendly Tote Bags You Didn't Know You Needed

From oversized canvas bags great for shopping and dragging around gym gear to chic leather options perfect for the office girl on the go, these stylish and sustainable totes are what’s missing from your closet right now.

Standard Baggu bags

Sustainability has been a part of Baggu’s mission and vision ever since it was founded in 2007. To this day, this San Francisco-based company makes fun and eco-friendly tote bags as well as other cool goodies for everyday use with environmental impacts in mind. Their popular reusable bags are super versatile and can be used as grocery bags, laundry bags, everyday carryall totes, and more.

The platinum-colored medium Baggu is one of the chicest options available on the online store. Coming in Baguu’s signature shape with a soft, shiny leather finish, this cute tote bag holds daily items including your lunch, books, and small shopping finds. If you want brighter colors and fun prints, you’ll find the standard Baggu tote in more than 60 colorways and prints.

Italian Leather Studio Bag from Everlane

Everlane believes in making things with exceptional quality at ethical factories with radical transparency; all of which they do very well. The San Francisco-based brand partners with the best factories from around the world and sources the finest materials to make beautiful clothing, shoes, and, of course, reusable tote bags.

One of this ethical brand’s most popular totes is the Italian Leather Studio Bag. Coming in black, light taupe, and cognac colors, these beautiful totes fly off the shelves almost every time they’re back in stock. We’ve highlighted this bag from Everlane as one of the best tote bags because not only is it super chic, but it also features functional details like an adjustable shoulder strap, interior and exterior pocket, and snap closure.

Are you a proud San Franciscan? You’ll also love this playful 100% SF tote from Everlane.

Oversized Double Loop Bag from Cuyana

Cuyana has a straightforward and simple sustainability approach—produce responsibly, use high-quality materials, and you’ll have fewer items ending up in landfills. The San Francisco-based brand encourages you to own fewer and better things, and they follow suit by producing in small batches, working with ethical factories, and using sustainable materials. You won’t find the latest trends every season on Cuyana, but you will find timeless pieces you’ll end up using for years to come without getting bored. And yes, that includes their sustainable tote bags.

Our current favorite sustainable tote from Cuyana is the Oversized Double Loop Bag. All five colors are absolute classics, but we’re drooling a little extra over the dark olive.

The Essential Tote from Rothy’s

Rothy’s is another S.F.-based brand that takes sustainability seriously. From materials to manufacturing, products to recycling, Rothy’s thinks about the environment every step of the way, constantly working to improve their practices.

The Essential Totes from this brand are as classic as they are versatile. Not only is the color of the bag up to you, but so are the journeys you take it on. The Essential Tote could be your next favorite tote bag for work, tote bag for groceries, or just the bag you use every day. Crafted with marine plastic, this bag effortlessly carries your essentials and is totally machine washable.

The Reversible Tote from Von Holzhausen

Based in Malibu, Von Holzhausen is a direct-to-consumer brand making ethical, sustainable, and stylish accessories for all genders. With a focus on design, sustainability, and freedom, this super cool brand is definitely worth the splurge.

Von Holzhausen’s shopper bags are perhaps its most popular style, coming in two sizes. While you can’t go wrong with a Large Black Shopper for everyday use, our choice of sustainable tote bag is the Reversible Tote. As the name suggests, this super stylish tote is two bags in one. Made from Technik-Leather, a vegan and sustainable leather alternative created from recycled plastic, this eco-friendly tote bag is an instant classic.

Cinch Hobo Bag from Hozen

Made ethically and sustainably in Los Angeles, Hozen uses premium organic and upcycled materials for styles that are as bold as they are functional. All items are made in small batches, and 10 percent of each purchase goes to Mercy for Animals, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing cruelty towards animals. 

All of Hozen’s environmentally friendly tote bags are super cool, but the Cinch Hobo Bag is our favorite. Effortless with its drawstring closure, spacious interior, and comfortable shoulder strap, this sustainable tote bag is ready to follow you on all your adventures in style. 

Denise Large Tote from Melie Bianco

Pico Rivera-based brand Melie Bianco combines fair trade practices and eco-friendly materials to make design-savvy bags you can’t help but love. Pushing for quality, craftsmanship, and affordable luxury, Melie Bianco’s vegan leather bags are the real deal.

The Denise Large Tote is as simple as it gets, but this sustainable bag sure does feel very luxurious. Cruelty-free, eco-friendly, and reversible, the Denise is super versatile and comes in three earthy colors—mint, tan, and classic black. This cute tote bag puts comfort and practicality at the forefront. We don’t know about you, but we’re totally carrying this with us wherever we go.