A tote bag for work is perfect. Here are 3 reasons why more and more working men are ditching their business bags.
2024/02 HushTug Editorial Department
Because I'm a company employee, I naturally use a business bag.
For those who grew up in an era with strict rules about bags and attire, it might seem obvious to continue using business bags today as they did back then.
However, as evidenced by the rapid increase in remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are showing a greater willingness than ever before to break away from "prescribed attire" and "past traditions."
Regarding the "business bags" mentioned above, it seems many people are now choosing them based on different criteria than before.
Many people are choosing tote bags as work bags.
My name is Nakajima, and I am the manager of the Ikebukuro store for the leather brand HushTug.
I talk to many customers at the store every day, and a common comment is:
"I came here because I was looking for a tote bag that I could use as a business bag."
In a survey we conducted, 75% of those who chose a tote bag said they would use it for work.
Why have so many people started choosing "tote bags" instead of "business bags"?
Perhaps there's a reason why people who once routinely used business bags now say:
"I wish I had switched to a tote bag sooner!"
3 advantages of switching from a business bag to a tote bag
To answer that question, we'll introduce the top 3 advantages of switching from a business bag to a tote bag, based on feedback from customers who visited our store.
① Can be carried on the shoulder or by hand
First, many people feel that being able to carry it on the shoulder is the best thing!, compared to traditional briefcase-style business bags.
Business bags commonly used today can be broadly divided into four types:
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Traditional business bags (briefcase style)
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2-way or 3-way business bags
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Business backpacks
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Business tote bags
Many people find that traditional business bags "make their hands tired when carrying heavy items," and many also feel that business backpacks might be frowned upon by their superiors or clients.
On the other hand, 2-way and 3-way business bags (which can be used as shoulder bags or backpacks) seem functionally perfect, but many people actually find them unfashionable.
Perhaps the dangling shoulder straps for shoulder bags or backpack straps detract from their stylishness.
Also, many people who choose 2-way or 3-way bags are 40 or older, and some people in their 20s-30s commented that they disliked them because they had the impression that older people use them.
In that regard, business tote bags are chosen by those who want the best of both worlds, as they offer the advantages of:
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Being able to be carried on the shoulder when heavy or commuting.
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Having a normal bag appearance that doesn't feel out of place.
② Can be used both on and off-duty
Being able to carry it even on non-work days is another major advantage.
Everyone has items they carry for both work and personal use, such as wallets and pouches. If you use a bag that can only be used for work (or conversely, can't be used for work), it's a hassle to transfer your belongings to another bag.
Unless you have particularly heavy work tools, you can use it for personal matters without having to transfer items.
Also, while genuine leather tote bags have a formal impression and can be used for work, the tote bag itself has a casual design, so it doesn't feel out of place when paired with casual clothes for personal use.
While business bags tend to give a stiff impression when carried for personal use, tote bags are attractive because they can be used in various situations, regardless of clothing, location, or even era.
③ If it's genuine leather, it can be used when meeting clients.
You might be wondering if a tote bag is even suitable for work.
Unless there are extremely strict rules, such as your company explicitly stating that only handbag-type (briefcase-style) business bags are allowed internally, it should generally be fine.
Among the customers I speak with at the store, some are in sales roles such as finance or real estate and want to be mindful of their bags because of client interactions.
Many of these customers actually choose tote bags, saying, "I want to carry it on my shoulder because the documents are heavy. A backpack is out of the question, but a genuine leather tote is acceptable!"
The only disadvantage of choosing a tote bag for work
The almost sole disadvantage of choosing a tote bag for work is its price.
Compared to business bags, tote bags offer many advantages like being able to be carried on the shoulder, but the tote bag itself is inherently a slightly casual item due to its shape. 
If made of materials like nylon, the casualness increases, inevitably narrowing the choice to leather.
Furthermore, considering daily work use, genuine leather is preferable to synthetic leather, which deteriorates quickly and peels easily, thus tending to be more expensive.
If you think about how a business bag, being inherently formal, would have been fine even in low-priced nylon, then the price might be a significant drawback when choosing a tote bag for work.
Genuine leather business tote bags for work. Which one do you recommend?
Actually, the tote bags from HushTug, the leather brand where I am the store manager, are becoming quite popular as work tote bags.
The brand launched in 2019, and its online store already has over 2,000 reviews for the series, with an average rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 points.
Actual Reviews
Wearing Video
Among them, what many people highly praise is the "high cost-performance."
Normally, products go through several companies from factory production to reaching the customer. However, HushTug manages everything from production to sales in-house, allowing us to offer genuine leather at an accessible price.
Furthermore, it comes with a reassuring support service that allows you to return or exchange your purchase for free within one month, no matter how much you've used it or for what reason.
HushTug products are not wholesaled to department stores or shops, so they can basically only be purchased online.
・I want to try a work tote bag, but I'm not sure if it suits me...
・I might not like it as much as I imagine, so I'm hesitant to buy it online.
For those individuals, and again, we offer free returns or exchanges for any reason, no matter how much it's been used, within 30 days.
Since returns are free, you literally have nothing to lose, so if you're considering replacing your business bag, please give it a try.
