Tote bags are perfect for work. Three reasons why working men are increasingly graduating from business bags.

2022/10 HushTug Editorial Department

All company employees must carry a business bag.

For someone from a generation that was strict about what they wore and what they carried, it may be natural for them to use a business bag as a vestige of that time.

However, since the COVID-19 outbreak, remote work has increased dramatically, and the "rules that were previously taken for granted" are beginning to change rapidly across Japan.

When it comes to business bags for work, it seems that many people are choosing them based on different criteria than before.

Many people choose tote bags as their work bags.

My name is Nakajima, and I am the store manager of the men's leather brand HushTug.

I have spoken to several thousand customers at the store, and the most common one is

"I'm looking for a tote bag that I can use as a business bag."

This is a customer.

In a survey we conducted with our customers, 75% of those who chose a tote bag said they would use it for work.

Why are so many people starting to choose tote bags instead of business bags?

This made me curious, so I decided to do some research and interview customers in-store.

Three reasons to graduate from business bags and choose tote bags

Based on the opinions of customers who actually visited our store, we've compiled the top three reasons why people choose tote bags over business bags.

① Convenient to carry on shoulder or by hand

It seems that many people feel that it is better to have a business bag that can be carried on the shoulder than one that is carried in the hand (such as a briefcase).

Recently, the bags that are being used for business purposes are:

・Traditional business bag (briefcase type)
・2-way or 3-way business bags ・Business backpacks ・Business tote bags

They can be broadly divided into four categories:

Many people feel that their hands get tired easily when they put heavy items in a business bag.

It seems that many people are concerned about what their superiors or business partners think when it comes to business backpacks.

Regarding 2-way and 3-way business bags that can be used as shoulder bags or backpacks,

The results showed that many people (especially women) found them to be uncool.

Do dangling shoulder bag straps or backpack shoulder straps make them unstylish?

In that respect, business tote bags are

・Can be carried on the shoulder when it is heavy or when commuting by train
-It looks like a regular bag, so it doesn't feel out of place at work.

Because of these advantages, tote bags seem to be the choice of people who want to combine the best features of a variety of bags.

② Can be used on and off, even on holidays

Another reason to choose a tote bag is that you can carry it around with you on days other than work.

I think this is a common thing for men, I don't want to change my bag depending on my outfit. There were many opinions like this.

・I don't want to spend that much on a bag. ・It's a hassle to change the contents.

That seems to be the main reason.

Business tote bags have a formal look and can be used for work, but the tote bag genre itself has a casual look,

It doesn't look out of place even when paired with casual clothes in private.

I feel uncomfortable carrying my business bag in private,

Some people said that the advantage of tote bags is that they can be used with a variety of outfits and in a variety of locations.

3. Genuine leather tote bags can be used when meeting with business partners

First of all, the question arises: is it okay to use a tote bag for work?

"The only thing you can use at work is your own business bag."

This excludes companies with extremely strict rules such as those above, but generally you can assume that there will be no problems.

Among the customers I talk to in the store, there are some who work in serious professions, such as finance and real estate, and who have many business negotiations with clients.

From such customers

"My documents are heavy, so I want to carry them on my shoulder. A backpack is no good, but a genuine leather tote bag will do!"

Many people choose tote bags.

Disadvantages of choosing a business tote bag

The downside to choosing a business tote bag is the price.

Tote bags have many advantages, such as being able to be worn over the shoulder and being suitable for both formal and casual occasions, but the shape itself is a casual item.



Nylon and canvas materials are more casual, so if you're using it for work, you'll want the luxury of leather.

If you consider using it for daily work, genuine leather is preferable to synthetic leather, which deteriorates quickly and is prone to falling apart and peeling, so the price tends to be higher.

What is your recommendation for a genuine leather business tote bag that can be used for work?

Actually, this tote bag is from HushTug, the store where I manage.

These days, tote bags are becoming quite popular among working men.

The brand was launched three years ago, but the online store

already It has over 2,000 reviews, with an average rating of 4.7/5.0.

Among tote bags that cost more than 10,000 yen, The number one shopper review in Japan It has become!

It also ranked first in the Rakuten Ichiba tote bag rankings for three consecutive weeks. It has come to be said that it is a brand that is known only to those in the know.

Among them, the one that has been highly praised by many people is "High cost performance" is.

HushTug manages everything from product production to sales in-house,

We are able to sell our products at about half the price of other genuine leather brands.

In addition, we offer peace of mind support, allowing you to return or exchange the product free of charge within one month of purchase, no matter how much you use it or for any reason.

HushTug products are not sold in department stores or shops in order to sell our products at low prices.

Basically, you can only buy it from the HushTug online store.

・I want to try a work tote bag, but I'm not sure if it will suit me...
・I'm worried about buying online in the first place because the product might be different from what I expected.

For such people, we would like to reiterate that "for any reason, no matter how much you use the product, you can return or exchange it free of charge within 30 days."

If returns are free, you can never lose out, so if you are considering replacing your business bag,

Please take a look at the HushTug online store.



*The price of the leather tote is scheduled to increase around December 2022. Now is the only time you can buy it at the current price, so it's a good idea to try it out soon!