Christie Peng | Photography
Tote bags are everywhere. Tote bags come in all shapes and sizes; my favorite tote bag is relatively large and rectangular-shaped. Whether it be Trader Joe’s, Kohl’s, or Michaels (my favorite art shop), each store offers unique tote bag options.
For instance, my Trader Joe's tote bag is cream colored with a red logo, while my Michaels tote bag pictures a sloth hanging on a tree.
The tote bag initially started off as a blank canvas. In recent decades, the tote bag lost more simplicity and incorporated more design elements. Designers use tote bags to express their identities, interests, and personal beliefs.
For many individuals like me, tote bags have become the “go-to bag” because of their function for self-expression. Tote bags also play a prominent role as marketing tools because of their accessibility. In the next section, I will explore the use of tote bags in the New Yorker’s marketing strategy.
Gavin Ward | Photography
Adrea Piazza | Photography
New Yorker | Photography
New Yorker Tote Bags
The New Yorker, a weekly art and writing magazine, popularized tote bags by offering them for free if the customer also purchased a subscription to the magazine. The magazine, known for its unique covers, also translated its creativity to marketing: tote bags.
Their tote bags feature vibrant designs, including “New Yorker” styled in curved black letters and a pigeon blowing bubble gum. These tote bags gained popularity on social media, even obtaining their own Instagram following. Every day, I see at least one New Yorker tote bag ad encouraging me to subscribe. No matter where I travel, I always see someone carrying a New Yorker tote bag on the streets.
Designing my own Tote Bag!
I was introduced to making tote bags at a friend’s 16th birthday party. She had acrylic paint, brushes, and blank tote bags, so we gathered together in her basement to come up with tote bag ideas. My friends drew inspiration from Pinterest ideas and painted patterns of hearts and flowers. One person even re-created a Bob Ross painting on her tote bag. I ultimately decided to go with the iconic duck from “The Duck Song.”
Painting on a tote bag was relatively easy and the colors popped out really well. It was slightly difficult tracing the outline of my character because of the bag’s rough surface. One tip of caution: I didn’t realize that acrylic paint bleeds through tote bags so there was paint on the other side. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed designing my own tote bag. To this day, I still believe that creating original tote bags is the best party idea.
Christie Peng | Photography
Ashley Wang | Photography
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