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This $186 leather tote is the work bag of my dreams

Courtesy Baggu
Courtesy Baggu

Baggu has long been known for their bright, fun and colourful reusable bags.

I’ve got a plethora of their Standard Baggu in every purse I own in case of impromptu grocery store trips, and I’ve been using the same canvas bag for the past two years.

While the lightweight ripstop nylon bags (which hold 2-3 times as much as a disposable grocery bag, BTW) are still the retailer’s best-selling bag, I recently stumbled across another Baggu creation — and I think I’ve found my summertime dream bag.

Baggu's Medium Leather Tote
Baggu's Medium Leather Tote

Basically, I’ve been searching for a sleek, functional tote bag that I can carry all my workday essentials in but that also transitions flawlessly to evening or weekend wear without being too bulky.

For the past year and a half I’ve been using Everlane’s Market Tote as my day-to-day work bag — but I was finding it a bit bulky, and wanted something a bit more streamlined.

Enter Baggu’s Medium Leather Retail Tote. I first came across this bag on Instagram — and immediately went to research further. The Retail Tote comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. The small is quite tiny (although insanely cute) and the large was a bit too rectangular for what I was looking for (although it would be perfect for a laptop bag), so I settled on the medium in Spanish Moss.

Baggu’s shipping was insanely fast — and within a couple of days of ordering the bag arrived on my doorstep.

First of all, the colour of this bag is absolutely beautiful. I’ve had coworkers and friends call it avocado, pea soup and “‘70s kitchen green” — all in the best way possible. The colour is so gorgeously unique — it’s a standout while still being neutral enough you can wear it with pretty much anything, which I have been.

The leather is smooth and supple and while this bag isn’t cheap, it feels every bit worth the price, and I know I’ll be carrying it for years to come. The structured shape sets this bag apart from a lot of totes on the market, which was also a big plus for me — it drives me insane when my bag flops over while its sitting by my desk.

The lining is 100 per cent cotton and 65 per cent recycled canvas lining - and I love that it’s a bit different from many leather totes on the market that don’t have a lining at all - it gives it a bit more of a durable edge, and I know that if it gets stained or dirtied I can have it replaced in the future.

The tote effortlessly closes with a magnetic snap at the top — solving the other big issue I have with many totes on the market: will everything I own just tumble out? The bag also has zippered interior pocket where I throw my house keys, work badge and anything else I want to keep a little more secure.

The size of the medium bag is 11” x 8” x 4” with a 10” strap drop, which means it can fit comfortably over your shoulder. It can fit an iPad — but it’s important to note it’s not going to fit a laptop. But, an added bonus, the bag came in a neon green canvas tote bag that I’ve been using as a second bag to throw my laptop in on days I carry it to and from work.

The size was exactly what I wanted and can easily fit a makeup bag, a book, my wallet and phone and some other essentials — occasionally I’ll switch out my usual large wallet for a smaller wallet or card case (um, if only this citrus pouch from Baggu’s summer collection was available when I ordered) and will throw in a pair of work shoes or a cardigan for the air-conditioned office.

Baggu's Large Retail Tote
Baggu's Large Retail Tote

However, while this size was perfect for me, if you’re looking for more of a typical tote bag, this does come in a bigger — and wider — size. The large comes in at 10.5” x 13.5” x 3.5” with a 10” strap drop, which means it can fit a 13-inch laptop. And if you’ve got a bigger laptop, there are options for that, too.

The biggest concern I had with this bag would be whether or not it was worth the price tag. At $186 USD, that’s nearly $250 Canadian — plus I had to pay about $40 additional in tax and duties upon delivery (more on that later). However I’ve been using this non-stop for about a month now and it shows absolutely no signs of wear, and I think the classic shopper shape will make it something that will never go out of style. The leather is supple, sturdy and the stitching is impeccable and the lining is extremely well made. Plus, Baggu prides themselves on sustainable products — for leather products, they use construction methods to avoid creating excess hide waste, and assemble some smaller items from scrap material, and they also have ethical factory work codes.

The Retail Tote comes in four colours: Spanish Moss, Cornflower (a stunning bluish purple), Pale Orchid (the dreamiest shade ever) and the always-classic Black.

And if the leather version isn’t your style, Baggu released a canvas version as part of their new summer collection — and shoppers are already praising the bag on Instagram.

The only downside is that Baggu doesn’t currently work with a Canadian online distributor, which means you do have to pay duties and taxes upon delivery. However, according to their Partnerships team, while Baggu “are not working with a Canadian distributor at this time, [they] are exploring solutions to help bring more transparency and better rates too for duties/shipping costs.”

And in the meantime, there are several Canadian retailers who carry the brand, including Indigo, Urban Outfitters and Well.ca.

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