Choosing eco bags and sub bags that you can use a lot and wash without worry.

Sub bags are useful not only for everyday shopping, but also fold up compactly and come in handy when traveling. They're perfect for those moments when you end up bringing home more than expected—at farmers markets, flea markets, or the library—or for outings with lots of luggage, like outdoor activities or the beach. They also work well in the kitchen as storage bags for fruit or bread. This feature focuses on these convenient sub bags. We recommend them for anyone looking for something not just practical, but also thoughtfully designed and built to last.

(Article updated: May 20, 2022)

A lightweight bag, paired with a matching sub bag

Small bags that let you move around freely are popular, but when you think about how your belongings tend to increase while you're out, it can feel a bit unreliable to head out with just that. It would be convenient to have a sub bag that folds up neatly to fit inside your bag, ready to pull out whenever you need it.

Many people carry a mini-sized main bag along with a larger sub bag

Tips for choosing a sub bag

The key points to consider when choosing a sub bag are simply: material, durability, size, and design.

[Material]

The main materials used for sub bags are cotton and linen. Both fold up small easily and are easy to wash.

▼Cotton

Soft, with more stretch compared to linen. It has a gentle appearance and is less likely to dig into your shoulder or arm when carried.

▼Linen

It tends to wrinkle easily at first, but as you keep using it and it softens up, it takes on a more relaxed, worn-in look. It can be washed thoroughly and dries quickly, so it's easy to keep clean.

[Size]

Size matters when it comes to a sub bag. Ideally, it should fold up compact but open up large—though bigger isn't always better. If you often carry A4-sized files, a snug size that keeps the file from shifting inside the bag is preferable. On the other hand, if you're taking it grocery shopping at the supermarket, it's nice to have plenty of gusset depth and a reassuring size that lets you keep adding items.

[Design]

The key point is a design that makes you happy just to carry it. A simple design that's easy to coordinate with your everyday clothing is especially nice.

A one-point design that won't grow tiresome

Which sub bag would you choose to use for a long time?

Grocery Bag

Brand: El Transwaal

Material: 65% polyester, 35% rayon

Size: Large

Design: Striped pattern, with gusset, with inner pocket

Features: Has both handle and shoulder strap, so it can be carried by hand or over the shoulder.

This grocery bag has a charming striped pattern, and although it's a larger size, it still looks neat and tidy. It's also durable and function-focused—since the brand originally started out making commercial-use aprons, it uses the same fabric (a polyester and rayon blend) developed for aprons meant to withstand frequent use and washing. It resists fading and wear even after repeated washing, so you can enjoy using it for a long time.

Thanks to the gusset, even bulky items fit easily all the way to the corners, and you can carry a lot inside while still looking smarter than with a gusset-less bag. The handles come in both a hand-carry style and a shoulder-strap style, so you can switch between them depending on the situation—using the hand-carry option when you already have another bag on your shoulder, or the shoulder strap when you want to keep your hands free.

Récolte Bag

Brand: ALDIN

Material: 50% linen, 50% cotton & Lining: 35% linen, 65% cotton

Size: Large

Design: Featuring the brand logo and handle, no pocket

Features: Hand-carry only. As you use it, the starch wears off and it becomes soft and supple, so some people also wear it over the shoulder.

"Récolte" means "gathering" or "harvest" in French. It's easy to picture tossing freshly picked, farmers-market-fresh vegetables into this bag one after another. Even if it gets a little dirty, it can be washed right away, and each wash makes the weave tighten up and grow even sturdier. With its generous capacity, it comes in handy not only as a shopping bag but also as a bag for lessons or the gym. It can comfortably hold magazines and A4-sized items too.

Since the design has no gusset, this is also a bag that can be folded up very compactly.

ALDIN's linen has quite a crisp texture from the starch when you first start using it, but once washed, it softens up and develops a really nice character. Here we've rolled up an unused piece, so it looks a bit tall, but once you start using it, it should fold down noticeably more compact.

Linen Cotton Reversible Tote Bag

Brand: CHARVET EDITIONS (Charvet Editions)

Material: 50% linen, 50% cotton

Size: Large

Design: Check pattern, no pockets

Features: Made by combining two types of linen cotton fabric for extra durability. Can be used reversibly.

This easy-to-use bag has two faces thanks to its reversible design, letting you switch colors to match your outfit or mood each day. By combining two types of linen cotton fabric, it has a sturdy construction that gives you peace of mind even when carrying heavy items.

The handles are made a bit longer, so there's no tightness when worn over the shoulder—a real plus when you've bought a lot and things get heavy, when you have other bags to carry, or when you're out and about with your kids. It's also nice to keep one in your car so you never find yourself having forgotten your bag and having to buy a plastic one instead.

▲With a spacious 22cm gusset, this bag holds plenty and is easy to use.

Linen Cotton Quilted Bag

Brand: ZUTTO

Material: [Outer fabric] 53% linen, 47% cotton [Lining] 100% nylon [Batting] 100% polyester

Size: Large

Design: Check pattern with eye-catching red stitching, outer pocket, ample gusset

Features: 2-way design that can be carried by hand or over the shoulder. The lining is Teflon-treated for excellent water and stain resistance.

The gentle, warm feel of this linen cotton quilted bag is the result of a ZUTTO original design perfected through repeated prototyping.

The inspiration comes from French market bags. When you think of a marché, you probably picture the open-air Paris markets lined with fresh produce, held two to three times a week, where many people chat with the shopkeepers and buy a full week's worth of groceries at once. Rather than a thin eco-bag that folds up small, wouldn't it be more convenient to have one made of sturdy fabric for shopping like this? We designed this market bag with the idea that you should be able to toss in vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish without the bag becoming lumpy or misshapen.

▲The inside is Teflon-treated, so you can use this eco-bag—which tends to get dirty—without worry.

The outer fabric features a blue check quilted design reminiscent of vintage linen, while the interior is Teflon-treated for excellent water and stain resistance, using a material that resists dirt. It's a practical, versatile bag suited to everyday scenes of all kinds. Even if it does get dirty, it can be hand-washed at home, so you can wash it worry-free and keep it clean. Shopping bags for groceries and mother's bags for carrying children's food and drinks tend to get dirty often, yet you want to keep them clean. Being easy to wash is an important point for something you'll use all the time.

We also made the gusset wide so that large items are easy to put in and take out, keeping the soft, relaxed feel of the bag while preventing its shape from getting distorted depending on what's inside. We added ribbon cords to the opening and snaps at the ends. Tying the cords keeps items from falling out and also hides the contents from view. With the snaps fastened, the bag takes on a square silhouette; unfastened, it becomes boat-shaped—so you can enjoy both looks.

No matter how many you own, a good sub-bag is always welcome. Break in your favorite one until it takes on a character all its own, and enjoy using it for years to come. We also recommend rounding out your collection with items suited to different purposes, such as a pouch for use as a bag-in-bag, or a mini washi (Japanese paper) bag.

Bonus feature: For stocking up once or twice a week.

▲It can be hooked onto a shopping cart for easy transport (*this color is currently unavailable)

As a bonus, here's a shopping cart, the ROLSER. Even with a load of groceries too heavy to carry comfortably over your shoulder or by hand, this cart lets you move around with ease. What's more, the bag folds up for storage when not in use, and the cart itself can also serve as a tool for carrying boxes or baskets. It's handy not only for shopping and outdoor activities, but also when moving house or as a bag for storing and carrying disaster preparedness supplies.

▽Browse the sub-bag category here