TJ TOTES

The TJ Tote project was born in Jaipur, India, on a hot day while exploring the magical world of craftsmen within the ancient walls of what locals call “The Old City”,aka my favorite pass time in the city whenever I could get a day off from work.

Deep down the narrow street alleys I stumbled upon a family owned embroidery business that had been there for generations. Messy piles of colourful fabric and embroidery patterns covered the dusty wooden tables while four middle aged bearded men meticulously embroidered the hems of saris at their work stations as well as several handbags that some European designer, who had discovered this hidden gem before me, commissioned them earlier that week. All of this while heavily smoking and distractedly watching some Bollywood production on an impossibly small television set which was clearly a relic of another time.

The owners, two Sikh brothers in their 70s, wearing neatly curated turbans, one red and one blue respectively, politely welcomed me, and as so often happens in Jaipur, invited me to sit with them for a Chai tea.

Following some short small talk and several Chai’s later, it was finally time to talk business.

I hadn’t planned on embroidering anything that morning when I left for my “adventure” but as anybody who has spent some times in those parts it is not uncommon to get carried away in Indian bazars.

Plus, they had been so kind and I was so fascinated with that whole reality that I told myself I absolutely could not leave empty handed.

As it happens I am an avid Tote Bag collector and I often carry one around, especially while exploring the markets of India, as I did that day of course.

It came to me right away and put down a couple of design sketches on the back of an old crumpled invoice that one of the brothers found nearby. They helped me source the colours among hundred of beautiful silk threads they held in a huge woven basket on the floor of the shop and within minutes they had a local fabric supplier stop by where I found the most amazing hand-loomed and locally produced organic cotton canvas.

That day I put down an order for 100 pieces.

The tote bags were a success and produced several more over the years as well as some custom designs for companies as well as private events.