The longer you use a bag, the better it is for your wallet and for the planet. Cotton canvas is a hard-wearing fabric, and with a little care it will look good for years and simply get softer with age.
When your bag needs a proper clean, hand wash it in cold or lukewarm water with a mild detergent, or use a gentle machine cycle at 30°C. Turn printed bags inside out first to protect the design. Avoid bleach and fabric softener, which can weaken the fibres and fade the colours.
Like most natural cotton, canvas can shrink slightly the first time it's washed, so stick to cool temperatures.
Skip the tumble dryer. Reshape the bag while it's damp and let it air dry, ideally out of strong direct sunlight so the colours stay rich. If you'd like a crisp finish, iron it on a medium cotton setting while it's still a little damp.
Keep your bag somewhere dry and airy. Folding a tote flat or rolling it up is fine; avoid storing it damp or in a sealed plastic bag, where moisture can lead to mildew.
A loose stitch or a small tear is not the end of a bag. A few hand stitches with strong cotton thread, or a patch on the inside, will give it a new life. Any tailor or alteration shop can repair a handle or a zip for very little.
The most sustainable bag is the one you already own and keep using.
And when a bag has truly reached the end of its life, it's made of 100% cotton, so it can go to textile collection for recycling rather than to landfill.
Everyday cotton, made to last.
