Trader Joe's tote bag craze: What's the hype and how to get your hands on one
Trader Joe's is known for its lineup of sensational hits—the Speculoos Cookie Butter, the Brazil Nut Body Butter (often hailed as a dupe for Sol de Janeiro's Brazilian Bum Bum Cream), and the Everything But the Bagel seasoning. Yet, one of the most surprising trends from the American grocery chain is found right at the checkout: their canvas tote bags.
The affordable accessory has quickly turned into a fashion trend, attracting consumers from all around the world.
Priced at just $3.99 (~P230) for the standard size and $2.99 (~P170) for the mini version at physical stores, these sturdy, reusable bags have become a must-have souvenir and fashion statement.
It all started with their "Save-a-Tree" reusable bags in 1977. Since then, it has been a casual carrying option for grocery shoppers.
But when Trader Joe's chain debuted its first batch of classic colorway mini totes in March 2024, there was no way but up for the TJ Totes global fever, with eager buyers lining up at dawn and often selling them out within hours—even with the imposed four-bag limits per customer.
In recent years, Japanese fashion junkies have been enthused with ‘American-casual’ fashion culture, with the simple tote bag, alongside the Ivy League look, turning into a status symbol.
An LA-based Japanese tour guide told BBC that while it’s long been a custom to bring souvenirs back home, the appeal of the totes comes from celebrity photos taken by the paparazzi. K-pop idols like JiYeon from TripleS and Xinghan were spotted carrying the bags, turning them into a desirable item.
In South Korea, the canvas totes have likewise taken on a life of their own as trendy accessories carried on the streets, from young MZ-generation trendsetters to middle-aged professionals.
According to Korea JoongAng Daily, single bags on e-commerce platforms like Bunjang and Karrot fetch 15,000 won (~P610) or more, while Naver Shopping lists them at 20,500 won (~P830), with over 700 units sold.
With no store locations in Asia and no online store, these bags can only be bought in person at over 600 U.S. locations.
What’s the public’s view?
Due to its perceived value as a limited and U.S.-exclusive item, some hopped onto the bandwagon with their own twists.
Earlier this year, New York influencer and artist Gabriela Vasci went viral for hand-painting the mini totes and selling commissions from $250 (~P14,500) to $500 (~P29,108), or up to $1,500 (~P87,300) for a framed version.
However, she also drew backlash from social media users for over-the-top pricing.
@gab_nyc Replying to @alexandria one of my favorite totes i’ve painted 🫒 #traderjoes #painting #artistsoftiktok ♬ This song - SULU
“My favorite part is that you can save $1k by sending in your own tote bag. Why is the tote bag the expensive part of the deal if it's about the quality of your art?” a user on Reddit said.
"'I will paint the martini and 6 olives myself thank you'…perfect response," another one said.
Online, some social media users expressed FOMO, or the fear of missing out, of the miniature tote bag.
"While driving yesterday, I noticed a long line around Trader Joe's store. Out of curiosity I went inside later that day, only to find out it's to purchase one of these rare beauties," one X user said.
But some people are confused about the hype over the tote. "Ok someone’s gotta explain to me why everyone wants a canvas tote bag from trader joe’s….?? what’s going on," wrote another.
Where to get them in the PH
While we don’t have our own Trader Joe’s grocery store in the Philippines, there are still ways to grab this sturdy canvas carryall.
Some OFW networks or U.S.-bound Filipinos offer “Pasabuy” deals to stock up from the classic totes to the limited-edition drops of the Mini Pastel Canvas and the latest Trick-or-Treat Mini Totes. They usually post their deals to attract customers on social media sites, usually on Facebook groups or on X.
Otherwise, you can also head straight into resale channels, such as e-commerce platforms Facebook Marketplace and Carousell, listing over 200 "Trader Joe’s bag" items from P450 to P900, as of writing.
E-bay resellers (with several shipping directly from the U.S.) also list items for sale at P1,000+, though shipping costs bump up the price.
Shopee and Lazada sellers (such as Gold Cup Online and Golden Joe) also import totes in bulk for resale, priced at P700 or higher for large sizes of the off-white/cream tote bag.