November 12, 2022
The farmer's market is where people swap their fabulous everyday bags for the most enormous but equally charming tote bags they can find.
On Saturday Nov. 12, I ventured out of my apartment to observe the market go-ers at the Piedmont Green Market as they wandered from tent to tent. I watched them pack in as many locally grown vegetables and aromatherapy products (that are sure to change their lives) into their totes and obviously had to start asking the hard-hitting news questions about what they look for in their market bags.
TOTE-ALLY AWESOME : A LOOK AT THE BEST TOTES AT THE PIEDMONT PARK FARMERS MARKET.
Brittany Jepsen, a 22-year-old fashion student at the Savannah College of Art and Design, brought her roomy white tote to the Green Market. Jepsen's tote set the bar high and ended up being the poshest tote bag of the day by a landslide. The weaved material of the bag was not only cute but also "incredibly functional," according to Jepsen. "I used to be a canvas tote girl and then realized I was far too clumsy for that material, so I switched to this bag for my market days," she proudly exclaimed. She continued to point at the bag like it was her most prized possession and stated that even though the bag wasn't canvas, it was still comfortable. The bag didn't dig into her shoulders and could fit all the oblong-shaped fruits, vegetables, bread, and flowers she could gather during her weekly outing. The otherwise neutral bag has a bright tassel that she added for a pop of color and for her cat to play with when it's not in use during the week. Jepsin's market bag was more structured than most traditional totes. However, it still felt close in practicality and familiarity to the other bags people utilize for the Green Market.
Kali Williams is a 32-year-old part-time marketing coordinator and full-time dog mom. With Williams being the proud dog mom that she is, it was no surprise that her preferred farmers' market bag is one with the message of adopting dogs. Williams's "Rescue is My Favorite Breed" tote displays a Kick-Ass message about adopting dogs and is wide and roomy, which is WONDERFUL for things such as baguettes (you truly never know how many carbs you'll actually leave the market with). The bag is a classic canvas tote bag designated for when Williams brings her dog, Stella, to the market. She made a point to say that the bag is more times than not filled with treats from the dog vendors at the Green Market, but Williams makes sure to leave just enough room to get herself a few things like bread and fresh fruit. Williams stated that an artist she found on TikTok created the bag. A large chunk of the bag's proceeds went to the Humane Society of the United States, which drove her to purchase the tote. The bag is simple, functional, and soft, making it a rather enjoyable one to spot and to tote (pun absolutely intended) around the market.
Mike Bailey, a 52-year-old retired stockbroker, came to the Green Market with his Caviar & Bananas tote bag in hand, ready to get his produce and blueberry waffle fix of the week. The bag caught my attention because of the rather outlandish name, so I had to ask what exactly the story was behind it. Bailey said he was a Charleston, S.C. native and that the bag was from a gourmet food store in the town that he and his wife used to frequent before moving to Atlanta. The bag had longer rope straps than traditional canvas totes that looked strong and like they could easily handle heavier purchases. The black border and font also made for a nice visual contrast between the beige fabric. Bailey joked about Caviar & Bananas being the only thing about Charleston, S.C. that he missed. He said that the bag is the best for the farmers' market because the inside is easy to clean if anything spills because it has a leather insert and because of its massive size. The bag with its wild name stood out beautifully against the sea of brown paper, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods bags commonly found at farmers' markets.
Ruby Raine, a 29-year-old Oribe hairstylist and die-hard Phoebe Bridgers fan, brought out her "Punisher" tour tote for the Green Market. Raine loves bringing the piece out to showcase her "light obsession" with Phoebe Bridgers because she thinks it's a good talking point and was one of the best shows she has ever been to. The bag is a simple canvas tote design with a van blooming with flowers, which makes it super appropriate for the Green Market. The phone number and services provided add a fun, quirky element to the tote that makes people unfamiliar with the artist curious. Raine's bag is very clearly loved and worn. The tote has little lipstick and pen stains at the bottom because she uses it as her market, work, and everyday bag because of how simple it is to chuck on in the morning and leave. Raine stated that the bag is super roomy, can fit all of her necessities, and still has room for any fun things she might add. Raine said she was planning on grabbing some fresh flowers from the Green Market to serve as a pick-me-up, and she thought it worked well with the floral aspect of the bag.
Kristin Higgins, A 26-year-old pilates instructor's bag, asked the most important question of the day with her hot pink "What would Dolly Do" canvas tote. This iconic tote is something Higgins wears most days because of how functional and soft it is and because anything Dolly-related is nothing short of a power move. The bag brings humorous and bubbly energy to almost any daytime event. "Everyone I have encountered while wearing the tote has gotten a kick out of it, which is all anyone could ask for in a bag," according to Higgins. The tote is the perfect home for Higgins's various shades of nude lipsticks (they're all different and serve a purpose!) and whatever vegetables are available at the market that week. Higgins said she usually only needs to bring that singular Dolly bag to fit all her purchases from the market because the bag is "like a never-ending pit. Just when you think you can't fit any more things in it, you somehow find room." The bag might be a traditional canvas style, but the subject of the bag being Dolly Parton, and the large bright pink text saves it from being a tote that is easy to forget.