When you first start looking for a new tote bag, the price difference between options can be confusing. One bag is under a tenner, another is nearly a hundred pounds. You start wondering if one’s lined with gold — or if the other’s held together with good intentions and a prayer.
So what makes some tote bags so much more expensive than others — and are they really worth the higher price?
Let’s break it down without the waffle. If you're curious about what makes Watership Down Crafts bags different, you can browse the Watership Down Crafts tote bag collection to see the kind of detail I’m talking about.
What Goes Into the Price of a Tote Bag?
1. Materials Matter
A quality tote bag made from sturdy materials like canvas or leather should last at least 3–5 years with regular use — unlike flimsy cheap ones that often give up in months (tolitote.com).
Cheaper tote bags are often made from thin cotton, unlined polyester, or that weird shiny plastic fabric that gives up halfway through your shopping trip. They might be fine for a few light errands, but don’t expect miracles.
Higher-priced bags usually use stronger stuff: cotton canvas, rescued upholstery fabric, interfaced linings, zips, proper thread, and hardware that doesn’t snap if you so much as look at it funny. Unsurprisingly, all of that costs more — and it holds up better.
2. Design and Construction
Factory-made bags are cut and stitched in bulk, often overseas, with speed and cost-cutting in mind. Handmade ones? Slower. More fiddly. Matching patterns. Stitching neat corners. Choosing linings that aren’t just an afterthought.
At Watership Down Crafts, I interface both the outer and lining fabrics so the bag has some shape. I add zipped pockets, boxed corners, reinforced handles, and top-stitching where it matters. You won’t find any limp, floppy rectangles here.
3. One-of-a-Kind vs. Factory Output
Buy a tote from a chain shop and you’re getting one of thousands. Buy one from me, and you’re getting the only one that exists in that exact fabric combo. No duplicates. No mass-produced mediocrity.
That also means working with rescued fabrics, matching pieces that weren’t designed to go together, and making it work without a meltdown (usually). It takes longer — but that’s the point.
4. Ethical Production and Fair Pay
If a tote bag costs £7 new, someone wasn’t paid properly. It’s not nice to think about, but it’s usually true.
I make every bag myself. No sweatshops. No shipping containers of sad-looking stock. Just me, sewing with quiet determination, a decent playlist, and whatever’s in my mug by the time I remember it. And yes, I do charge enough to cover the time it takes.
5. Functional Extras
Zips. Pockets. Linings. Boxed corners. Wide handles. Reinforced seams. These are the bits that actually make a tote bag useful — and they all take time to sew properly.
The difference between “oh, this’ll do” and “I love this bag” is usually in the details.
Quick Comparison: Handmade vs. High Street Tote Bags
| Feature | Cheap High Street Tote | Handmade by Watership Down Crafts |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | Thin cotton or plastic | Repurposed upholstery, canvas, interfaced lining |
| Structure | Flat and floppy | Boxed corners, reinforced shape |
| Features | Often unlined, no zip | Lined, zipped, with pockets |
| Quantity | Mass-produced | One-of-a-kind |
| Ethically made? | Often questionable | Made in the UK by me |
| Longevity | Months (if you're lucky) | Years (if you’re not dragging it through hedges) |
Is It Worth Paying More?
That depends what you’re after. If you just want something to carry your swimming costume to the pool once a month, then a cheap one might be fine.
But if you want a bag that gets used daily, carries everything from notebooks to dog treats, and doesn’t fall apart when it rains — then yes, it’s worth paying for quality.
A bag from the Watership Down Crafts tote bag collection isn’t just functional. It’s properly made, genuinely one-of-a-kind, and built to be used — not babied. Plus, you’re unlikely to bump into someone else carrying the same one on the high street.
Final Thoughts
Tote bag prices aren’t just about fabric and stitching. They reflect time, skill, ethics, and individuality. If you’ve ever looked at a handmade bag and wondered, “Why is that more expensive?” — now you know.
And if you’re after something different from the usual high street repeat prints, have a look at my latest tote bags here. You might just find the one.
FAQs
How long do handmade tote bags last?
If they’re made properly (and not abused), years. I still have one from five years ago that gets used weekly. It’s outlasted two umbrellas and a pair of shoes.
What makes a handmade tote better than a designer brand?
Massive price tags don’t always mean better quality. Designer bags often charge for the logo. I charge for the time, skill, and fabric matching that goes into each one. Also, you won’t see mine splashed across billboards or faked in a market stall.
Are handmade tote bags worth the price?
If you value quality, ethics, and owning something unique — absolutely. If you just want the cheapest bag going, probably not. (But I hear supermarket carriers are still available.)
