One of my favorite sources of sartorial inspiration is when photographer Jamie Beck goes to the market. Jamie left the hustle of New York City for an achingly beautiful life in Provence, and every weekend she visits the market with her daughter, Eloise. They go in search of the most delicious local cheeses, fresh-baked baguettes, and juiciest produce the land and its people have to offer. All the while, greeting vendors with a “Bonjour!” and always—always—with a romantic market tote bag in hand.
image via Apolis Now, I’m not moving to Provence anytime soon. But I sure do have a thing for romanticizing my life. And one day as I watched Jamie taste-test Provençal cheeses, it hit me—the reusable plastic grocery bags I keep wadded up in the trunk of my car are cramping my style. I may not have a cheese guy or French doors that overlook a charming little town, but I’ve got a farmer’s market and I’ve got a daughter with an equally timeless name (Adaline, she’s adorable). All I need now is the perfect market bag to gather our bounty.
In This Article
What to Look For in a Market Bag
Best Crochet Market Bags
Best Market Bags With Compartments
Best Washable Tote Bag
Best Classic Canvas Market Bag
Best Woven Raffia Market Bags
Best Structured Canvas Bag
Best Market Tote Bag Kit
Best Customizable Market Tote
Best Foldable Market Tote
Bonus: Best On-the-Go Tote Bag
What to Look For in a Market Bag I’ve done the research and whether you’re looking for a tote to carry your groceries, produce, or flowers, I’ve got you covered. There are a few key factors to consider when choosing your perfect market tote. First, you want sturdy, comfortable straps. The tote needs to be cute, yes, but it also needs to haul everything from lemons to melons without wearing down the strap—or your shoulder. Second, the material matters. Personally, I love a tote made from natural materials like straw, canvas, or cotton. And ultimately, when you’re shopping for produce and pantry items, you need a material that’s easy to clean. Finally, the design and style of the tote are obviously priorities, here. We want a market tote that matches style with utility and thankfully, there are many market bags that fit the criteria. The only question is… which one feels most like you? Let’s find out. Every product is curated with care by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a small commission at no cost to you. Best Crochet Market Bags You need a set of these mesh cotton grocery bags as a baseline. They’re less of a market tote, per sé, but they are very French-inspired (if, like me, you happen to care about that). Most importantly, they serve as incredibly convenient ways to sort produce—and these babies can hold a LOT. They’re machine washable to boot!
Essential Crochet-Style Market Bags Talk about a killer Amazon find. These bags were made to expand—and they’re strong enough to haul it all. Pack a bushel of apples, bunches of kale, or blocks of chéve. Material: 100% cottonDimensions: 14″ L x 13.38″ WMachine Washable: Yes
Reusable Cotton Mesh Grocery Bags (Set of 3) $11
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Best Market Bags With Compartments If your first order of business upon getting a new purse is to count the pockets then you’re going to love a compartmentalized market tote. There are sections for your wine, produce, bread, eggs, and flowers. And let’s be honest—what more do you need in life?
Midsize Canvas Bag With a Cooler Compartment That strap on the left is purely to carry your flowers which is too charming to handle. But the utility of this bag is its secret sauce. There’s a cooler in the middle for your fresh yogurts and bone broth plus 8 pockets for everything from milk to eggs. Material: heavy-duty canvas with vegan leather base and handlesDimensions: 11″ W x 11″ L x 13″ HMachine Washable: No
CapaBunga Multi-Pocket Canvas Market Tote $70
Large Capacity Tote Bag With Compartments This is the bag you want for those big grocery hauls—or picnics! Pack up your (very organized) goods and go. Material: canvas, faux leatherDimensions: 10″ H x 13″ W x 21″ LMachine Washable: No
Terrain Large Canvas Market Tote $88
Best Washable Tote Bag It isn’t every tote bag that can stand up to the machine wash and last. And even if it does, rarer still that it’ll keep any structure after the fact. But I’ve got good news for the clean freaks among us: there is a bag that can do it all.
A Durable Bag You Can Throw in the Wash (17 Colors) This is a bag you will LOVE. It’s sustainable (as in, made with nearly 618 grams of marine plastic otherwise bound for the ocean), it’s been tested for handle durability (150-pound capacity, to be exact), and it washes good as new again and again. A great bag for the market—but it might just become your Everyday. Material: knit with a combination of thread made from marine plasticDimensions: 13.6″ H x 6.7″ W x 12.8″ LMachine Washable: You betcha
Rothy’s The Lightweight Tote $170
Best Classic Canvas Market Bag You’ve seen this bag on the shoulder of many for good reason. As far as canvas bags go, you can’t go wrong with a well-made classic. It’s versatile in looks and those handles are all about durability. The only question—which color will you choose?
An Iconic Bag That Will Last Decades (6 Colors, 4 Sizes) Listen, this tote was tested and proven to carry 500 pounds. So stash all the squash you want, there’s no fear of loose threads here. It’s a classic bag that’s been around since 1944—clearly, this is a tote that’s here to stay. Material: Heavy-duty 24 oz. cotton canvasDimensions: 17″H x 19″W x 10″DMachine Washable: No
L.L. Bean Boat and Tote®, Open-Top $45
Best Woven Raffia Market Bags I have to admit, woven bags are a look. A good one won’t unravel under pressure—which means it’ll be an investment. Well worth it, if you ask me.
Large Corchet Raffia Bag (2 Colors) This large woven bag features wide-loop handles for an easy carry, no matter where you’re off to. Might I suggest, market to beach? Material: RaffiaMachine Washable: No
Jenni Kayne Woven Raffia Tote $175
Large Raffia Bag With Compartments (2 Colors) This tightly (hand) woven raffia bag is the masterpiece of market totes. A clean design with natural materials? Find me at the market DAILY. Material: RaffiaDimensions: 13.4″ H x 12.4″ L x 3.1″ WMachine Washable: No
Sézane Paloma Basket $250
Best Structured Canvas Bag I love my stash of canvas bags until it’s time to carry milk. Or jarred sauce. Or anything with weight and structure. A canvas bag that can stand up to the task is a winner. Add pockets? Damn near perfection.
Easy-Carry Canvas Bag With Pockets (5 Colors/Prints) Yes, Hill House is home to my beloved Nap Dress and yes, it might be a little much to match my bag to my outfit. However, I can be convinced due to the sheer utility of this bag. It’s bigger than it looks in the photo and it’s full of storage compartments for literally every item—there’s even a zippered pocket for keys and valuables! Material: 100% CottonDimensions: 17″ L x 15″HMachine Washable: No
Hill House The Market Tote $95
Best Market Tote Bag Kit Why have one when you can have six? The minimalists will cringe but hear me out—there are bags for produce, a large tote for pantry items, mesh bags for artisan bread—plus, it’s the perfect eco-friendly starter kit for a major grocery haul.
A Set of Market Bags That Do It All You had me at, “no more plastic produce bags.” This kit will get your groceries home with ease—no licking fingers to open bags (ew) requried. Material: Organic cottonDimensions: Vary by bag—details hereMachine Washable: Small bags are machine washable and line dry, large bag is spot clean
Etsy Farmer’s Market Tote & Produce Bag Set $26
Best Customizable Market Tote Apolis is the brand behind The Bag. You know it when you see it—rectangular jute and leather construction and often bearing a brand logo or clever saying. You can customize this bag to your liking or keep it clean. Either way, it’s a beautiful bag that creates a fair wage for mothers in Bangladesh.
The Classic Market Bag That Never Fails If I truly want to channel my girl-crush Jamie, I’m reaching for this bag. Aside from the classic look and proven durability, this bag has a liner that’s easy to wipe clean. Style, meet function. Material: 100% natural golden jute fiber harvested in Bangladesh, 100% polyurethane lining, leather, antique nickel rivetsDimensions: 13″ wide, 18″ high, 8″ deepMachine Washable: No
Apolis Market Bag in Natural $62
Best Foldable Market Tote Three cheers for a bag that can do it all—and then be tucked away without creating clutter in and of itself. This bag takes it one step further by including pockets in its structure. Now, that’s some kind of magic.
A Surprisingly Hard-Working Tote It’s a well-known fact that if anyone has nailed the laid-back style, it’s the Aussies. Naturally, I love everything the Aussies create (including my husband… okay, I’m a little biased). This market tote comes from a Certified B Corp who set out to make the bag of all bags. The capacity is stunning considering its structure and the color pops are the dopamine boost your grocery runs need. Material: 100% recycled PET plastic bottles, leather freeDimensions: 340 x 430 x 150 mmMachine Washable: No
Bellroy Market Tote $39
Bonus: Best On-the-Go Tote Bag Sometimes you just need a bag in a pinch. Throw this one in your purse or keep it in your favorite market tote above for those days when you can’t contain all the kale in a single bag. Amazingly, it’s treated with antimicrobial technology to keep groceries fresh and clear from bacteria and viruses. This is the bag I keep in my own purse and it gets the job done perfectly.
A Tote For All Times Grab this non-smelly bag that folds down to nearly nothing which is surprising, considering it’s capacity. And major points for its water-repelant, sustainable material. Material: 100% recycled polyester and 100% nylonDimensions: H: 15.5cm/6.1? W: 11cm/4.3? D: 4cm/1.6?Machine Washable: Yes
Arinum Tote Bag Lite $39
Now that you’re perfect market tote it in tow, it’s time to fill ‘er up! Get some inspiration for the farmers market this weekend—you can’t go wrong with any of these produce-packed recipes. The post PSA: It’s Farmers Market Season—And You Need a Cute New Tote Bag appeared first on Camille Styles.
