Woven Totes

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A woven bag is a bag whose body is built from interlaced strips of material rather than a single cut panel, which gives it a textured surface and a body that holds its shape without stiff structure. Duck Apparel sells woven bags in South Africa as the textural counterpart to its quilted outerwear, and the collection covers The Woven Handbag. The weave is the whole point of the design, it catches light differently across the surface and it adds detail to an outfit without adding a pattern or a print. That makes a woven bag an easy match for plain clothing.

What makes a bag a woven bag?

A woven bag is made by cutting a material into strips and interlacing them, usually in a basket weave or a diagonal weave, before the panels are assembled into a bag. Because the surface is built rather than printed, the texture runs all the way through and does not wear off. The weave also gives the body of the bag a small amount of natural give, so a woven bag holds a rounded shape when it is full and softens when it is empty. Weaves range from tight and fine, which reads as formal, to open and loose, which reads as casual and summery.

The trade off worth knowing is that woven construction has gaps. A tightly woven bag is fine for daily use, but a loosely woven one is better with a lining or a pouch inside for small items. The Woven Handbag is the piece in this collection, sized as a handbag rather than as a carryall, which puts it in the category of a bag for a phone, a purse, keys and sunglasses rather than a laptop.

How does a woven bag compare with a tote?

Choose a woven bag when you want texture and a defined shape, and choose a tote when you want capacity and a bag that folds away. The insulated puffer totes take the quilted construction from Duck Apparel outerwear and turn it into a soft, high volume bag that carries far more than a handbag. A woven bag is the more considered of the two and sits better with an outfit you have thought about. Many people carry both, a tote for the commute and a smaller woven bag for everything after it.

Personalising and organising a woven bag

A strap change is the fastest way to make a bag look like a different bag. Swapping in one of the embroidered tote straps shifts a woven handbag from a shoulder carry to a cross body carry and adds colour at the same time, which suits the bright light and outdoor life of most of South Africa. Inside the bag, a small pouch keeps loose items from finding the gaps in the weave, and the leather makeup bags are sized to sit inside a handbag rather than on a dressing table. Between the two, one bag covers several different days.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a woven bag?

A woven bag is a bag whose panels are made from strips of material interlaced together rather than from one continuous piece. The weave creates a raised texture across the surface and gives the bag a body that holds its shape when full. Woven bags are made in leather, raffia, straw, cotton cord and synthetic materials. Duck Apparel makes the style as The Woven Handbag.

Are woven bags only for summer?

Woven bags are worn year round, and only the material makes a bag seasonal. Straw and raffia weaves read as summer because of what they are made from, while leather and darker cord weaves work through winter without looking out of place. In South Africa, where summer runs from November to February, a light coloured woven bag is a summer piece and a dark one is not. The weave itself carries no season.

How much fits in The Woven Handbag?

The Woven Handbag is sized as a handbag, so it is intended for a phone, a purse, keys, sunglasses and a small pouch. It is not designed as a work bag or a laptop bag. If you need to carry more, a tote is the better shape, since totes are built around volume rather than around silhouette. Choosing by what you actually carry daily avoids buying a bag that stays in a cupboard.

Do things fall out of a woven bag?

Things do not fall out of a tightly woven bag, but a loosely woven one needs a lining or a pouch for small items. Coins, earrings and cards are the usual culprits, because they are small enough to work into a gap in the weave. A zipped inner pouch solves it and keeps those items together. Check how tight the weave is before you decide whether you need one.

How do you clean a woven bag?

Clean a woven bag by brushing dust out of the weave with a soft dry brush before you use any liquid. Water and cleaner sit in the gaps between strips and take a long time to dry, which can mark the material. For a woven leather bag, a barely damp cloth wiped along the direction of the weave is usually enough. Let the bag dry away from direct sun, which fades and stiffens most bag materials.

How should you store a woven bag?

Store a woven bag upright and lightly stuffed, with tissue or a soft cloth inside to hold its shape. A woven body creases if it is squashed flat under other bags, and the creases follow the weave and are hard to remove. Keep it in a breathable dust bag rather than plastic. Handles and straps last longer if they are not folded back on themselves during storage.

What do you wear with a woven bag?

A woven bag works best with plain clothing, because the texture is the detail. Solid colours, denim and simple knits let the weave register, while a busy print competes with it. A neutral woven bag also carries well against outerwear, which is usually the strongest visual element in an outfit. If the bag has an unusual colour, keep the rest of the outfit quiet.