Personalised Tote Bag: How to Design Your Own, Step by Step
Design your own
Pick a canvas, pick your patches, and we do the rest.
To design a personalised tote bag with The Charmé Edit, open the tote customiser, choose Cream White, Olive Green or Deep Navy canvas, then drag and drop iron-on patches and A to Z letter patches onto the bag. We heat-press every patch onto the organic cotton tote for you in London, so there's no ironing at home.
A plain canvas tote is useful. A personalised tote bag, with your name on the front and patches that say something about you, is the one you actually reach for. Personalised totes are having a big moment, from monogrammed boat bags to patch-covered market totes, and the best part is how little design skill it takes to make one look good.
Drag, drop and choose your own patches.
How does designing your own tote work?
Our tote customiser lets you drag and drop patches onto a picture of the bag until the layout looks right. When you order, we lay the patches out the same way and heat-press each one onto the canvas by hand in London. You get a finished, personalised tote bag, not a bag and a bag of patches.
Step 1: Choose your canvas colour
Every tote is the same organic cotton canvas in three colourways. The colour sets the mood before you add a single patch:
Cream White is the most versatile and makes colourful patches stand out the most.
Olive Green trims feel sporty and preppy. It's the colour we use for our Tennis Bag.
Deep Navy trims feel nautical and polished, and suit coastal and travel themes.
The three base colours.
Step 2: Pick a theme for your patches
The totes that look best usually have one idea running through them. Pick something you love, a sport, a place, a food, a pet, and choose 5 to 9 patches around it. Need inspiration? Our custom tote bag ideas cover twelve themes, from matcha to golf. Browse everything in the patches collection.
Our letter patches come in every letter from A to Z, so you can spell out a name, initials or a short word across the front. Each letter is about 20 mm square. Short words look best: initials, a first name, or a word like TENNIS or DOG MOM.
Want a ready-made design with your initials instead? The Tennis Bag and Travel Bag let you swap their lettering for your own. Our guide to how custom letters work explains how.
Step 4: Plan the layout
Anchor the centre. Put your name or your biggest patch on the front pocket, then work outwards.
Go odd. Groups of 3, 5 or 7 patches look more natural than even rows.
Leave some canvas. A bit of breathing space makes each patch easier to see.
Mix sizes. Combine a couple of bold patches with small ones, like a cherry or a heart.
Step 5: Finish it with a bag charm
Every tote has a keychain hook, which is the perfect spot for a hand-beaded bag charm. It's the quickest way to make a tote feel finished, and you can swap it whenever you like. See 5 ways to style your tote for more ideas.
PocketsOne outside pocket, one inside pocket, button closure
ExtrasKeychain and bag charm hook
LaptopFits up to a 13-inch laptop
ColoursCream White, Olive Green or Deep Navy
Making timeMade to order in London in 2 to 5 working days, then shipped
Looking after it is simple: spot clean with mild detergent and dry flat. Our tote care guide covers patches too.
A name and a few festive patches make it a gift.
Giving it as a gift
A personalised tote is one of the easiest gifts to get right, because there's no size to guess. Put their name on the front and pick patches that suit them, like the festive design shown here. For ideas by budget and person, read the best personalised tote bag gifts for Christmas, and check how early to order if you're working to a date.
Planning details
Frequently asked questions
How do I design my own tote bag?
Open the Customise your Everyday Tote page, choose a colour, then drag and drop patches and letter patches onto the bag. We heat-press everything onto the tote for you.
Can I put my name on a tote bag?
Yes. Letter patches come in every letter from A to Z, so you can spell out a name, initials or a short word.
Do I have to iron the patches on myself?
No. We heat-press every patch onto the canvas as part of your order, so your tote arrives finished.
How many patches should I add?
Most designs look best with 5 to 9 patches around one theme, plus your name or initials if you want them.
How long does a personalised tote take?
Personalised totes are made to order in London in 2 to 5 working days, then shipped.
