Recommending Linen for Summer vol.3:

Wash it again and again, and it's always clean. All about natural, stylish linen eco bags.

Linen is a natural material with a distinctive crisp texture and excellent moisture-wicking, quick-drying properties, making it perfect for summer. With climate change bringing muggy heat well into mid-autumn in Japan, linen suits everyday life here and remains useful throughout the year. This year, once again, we're holding a linen market featuring linen clothing and everyday goods.

Linen is a material that grows more comfortable the more you use it—one you'll want to keep using for years to come.

>>Recommending Linen for Summer vol.1: ZUTTO's exclusive fog linen works linen French sleeve nightshirt—click here

>>Recommending Linen for Summer vol.2: An original parasol crafted by Japanese artisans, beautiful even when closed, made for enjoying the sunshine—click here

Why linen tote bags make great eco bags

Having one large, sturdy tote bag that you can just toss things into is sure to come in handy in all kinds of situations. It works perfectly as your main bag on days when you have a bit more to carry, and it also serves as a reliable extra bag when you end up with more items than expected—whether you're out shopping, visiting a farmers market or flea market, or heading to the library. Let's take a closer look at linen, a material so well suited to tote bags.

1. A soft, relaxed texture and stylish design

Linen Tote Bag / LINEN TALES

Linen tote bags come in both 100% linen and linen-cotton blends, but when linen is included, it gives the bag a distinctively soft, relaxed silhouette that feels casual and charming. Many come in natural colors typical of linen, giving off a stylish air without being too flashy.

Linen Tote Bag / LINEN TALES

2. Sturdy, yet doesn't feel heavy even when packed full

Linen tote bags are notably lighter than those made from other materials. If you're looking for a tote bag to carry your belongings, choosing a material like linen—one that doesn't feel heavy even when packed full—is a great choice.

3. Can be washed again and again when dirty, and dries quickly even in winter

Linen is known for its quick-drying properties, drying easily even when wet. Eco bags used for grocery shopping often get dirty, so the fact that they wash easily and dry quickly year-round is a major advantage.

Tote bags from CHARVET EDITIONS that carry a breeze of France

In Armentières, a spinning and weaving town in northern France near the Belgian border known as the Cité de la Toile, there is a weaving company called TRP Charvet that has been producing industrial fabrics for over 100 years. Making use of the hand-weaving traditions passed down for generations in this region known as the "town of linen," this long-established maker is still trusted today for the quality and durability of its special fabrics, used even in bags and tents for the French military.

When it comes to producing natural linen and cotton goods, the company insists on 100% French manufacturing, from thread to finished product. These sturdy items become softer and blend more naturally into daily life the more they are used, and each tote bag features the kind of natural, stylish coloring so characteristic of France.

Linen Cotton Reversible Tote Bag

The Linen Cotton Reversible Tote Bag is made sturdy by combining two types of linen-cotton fabric, giving you peace of mind even when carrying heavy items. The straps are made long, so the bag doesn't feel tight even when carried on the shoulder—a real advantage when you've bought a lot and things have gotten heavy, when you have other bags to carry, or when you're out with children. It's also a good idea to keep one in the car at all times, so you never end up having to buy a plastic bag because you forgot to bring your own.

Linen Bag Bon Appetit

The Linen Bag Bon Appetit is a tote bag made from natural-colored linen. Two lines of text reading "BON APPETIT" are printed on it, giving this simple bag a fun, playful feel. "Bon Appétit" is French for "enjoy your meal"—a phrase used by someone serving food to say, in effect, "please, go ahead and eat." Given its food-related phrase, this bag also looks stylish left out on display in the kitchen, holding your food stock.

Reversible Tote Bag

The Reversible Tote Bag is made sturdy by combining two colors of linen-cotton fabric, giving you peace of mind even when carrying heavy items. The straps are made long, so the bag doesn't feel tight even when carried on the shoulder—a real advantage when using it as an extra bag. With its wonderfully simple design, it's handy to keep in the car at all times or bring along while traveling.

Turn it inside out, and it becomes a natural color that feels true to linen. You can match it with your outfit as you like.

A linen tote bag that keeps both body and mind feeling cool and refreshed. The hot days are far from over, so why not try a lovely parasol that lets you enjoy the sunshine in comfort?

▽Click here for the sub bag / eco bag category page