It’s good to have a few nicely crafted leather bags. But sometimes leather bags can be way too heavy especially if you carry a lot of stuff in them. In my case, I carry a Mason jar of coffee, lunch, a book, a cell phone, a small wallet, a notebook, and a tiny jar of moisturizer. I also carry a cardigan if I’m not already wearing one, even during the summer.
I try to minimize what I carry by leaving everything I don’t need at home such as a whole tube of moisturizer and a make-up kit. However, my bag can still be heavy because of the Mason jar I carry. I don’t want to use an environmentally-unfriendly paper cup or an unhealthy plastic bottle for my hot coffee. So, a heat-resistant Mason jar with a tightly fitted top is perfect for me, and I cannot substitute it with any other container.
All the items combined are already heavy enough. That’s why I prefer not to carry a heavy leather bag. I see that some leather bags look nice. I especially like many of Bottega Veneta bags, and I also found a hand-woven leather bag by Falor that looked a lot like BV. But any of those woven leather bags are especially heavy—like carrying two of the same bags at once. You would be better off just carrying a bag made with a fabric as light as just the lining, but durable at the same time.
Over the past several years, I have made five styles of simple black nylon bags—each for a different occasion. All these bags have a gusset, and they are all foldable
Medium-size tote with lining, zipper, secured gusset, and inner pocket for the workday
For instruction on how to make the below bag, click HERE.
Must-have everyday reusable eco bag to keep in your bag for shopping
For more information on this bag and New York State’s ban on plastic shopping bags, click HERE.
Small pocketbook tote with zipper for the weekend
Large tote with reinforced handles for all-day shopping or one-day trip
Boxy tote with boarded gusset for lunch
All of these bags above were made to last forever. They are immortal. I wonder which vintage stores they are destined to go to after they become orphans.
