Pictured here are Jeremy, Keagan, Baylee, Alex, Mark, Eske.
Instead of a traditional “message from the founder,” we thought it would be more meaningful to share a conversation. In this interview, Jeremy and Eske talk about how Tote Suite began, their collaborative process, and the vision of carrying Tote Suite forward together.
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1. How did we first meet, and what stood out to you about that initial connection?
J: Eske and I met on a collaboration years back we did with Adidas. Eske was asked to create a vision for the brand - for an activation and we were asked to carry it out. In my personal experience -- a lot of the time the Designers we work with aren't super open to our technical feedback out of the gates -- and tend to push and push to make wine from water - which is always my hope but reality sets in most of the time and we need some level of compromise.
Eske not only was open to this - he actually flourished with the suggested pivot, accepted the new palette and designed based on our suggestions that would make this project all that it could be. Eske stood out to me as a very creative open minded and adaptive human - - kind, generous and positive which is what our company strives to be every day.
E: We met during an Adidas campaign we did a few years ago, 2018 or 2019 I believe. I was asked to design a collection and have it featured at an event where 300 pairs of pants were to be given out, and it was all so fast, only having a few weeks to do it, that I mainly focused on the collection and didn’t have time to do much for the event. So Jeremy was asked to come in with Peace and Cotton (parent company to Tote Suite) to help do the production of the pants and live printing, he basically saved my life with that as I was so wrapped up in design that he really helped focus on the production and event. I was so out of my league at the time but Jeremy made me feel like “no problem, we got this!!”
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2. What made you feel like now was the right time to start Tote Suite as its own brand?
J: I have 100s of ideas - in fact for my first 30 years on this planet I would wake up every morning trying to reinvent the wheel.
I've realized over time -- that good ideas are very hard to come by - but they're there - and they're waiting for you to nurture them. Tote Suite was an idea I had maybe 10 years ago - and I asked the question "why is this a bad idea" -- for ten years -- until it was time. I dont usually wait a decade - but Peace and Cotton wasnt in a place where it was responsible to take such a measured risk with an offshoot of the company.
We had recently bought a large automatic press that allowed us to scale - and be considerate also of our team and the physical demands we face every day - tote bags are easier to print then some of our more complex projects -- and it was a fit. I also am a scrabble nerd and love word play - so Tout Suite / Tote Suite / Sweet Totes -- has been a fun game that we want to have a place in the cosmos. it also happens to be amazing for the environment / the community / and these types of ideas tend to be the "good" ones in a world so full of je ne c'est quoi.
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3. How would you describe our collaborative process so far?
E: It’s very open and easy, and dare I say… FUN! Jer’s always been super supportive of my work and my process that it really translated well to working full time together on Tote Suite. I think our brains balance creative and admin so collaborating has felt like a natural extension of that.
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4. What’s something unexpected you’ve learned from working together on Tote Suite?
E: The openness and communication. You’d be surprised how many people and teams out there don’t communicate well so it’s a rarity to find one that does. It’s a very validating feeling to find others who work the same way I do and treat me fairly along the way. Very unexpected but it is very much appreciated.
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5. How does Tote Suite build on the legacy of Peace & Cotton but also carve out something new?
J: We love working with Independents and Corporations alike. Every job is as important as the next. From one tote bag for a local artisan to 50000 for a large multinational -- we need to nail down the process and the intention - and communicate all the details effectively and efficiently so everyone is excited and aligned when the goods are made and reach the market floor.
E: I’d say it takes everything P&C has learned and directly applies it to this new project. All the hard lessons can have a place to funnel the learning outcomes into a new narrative with a single product and goal in mind.
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6. Tote bags are everywhere, but Tote Suite has a particular philosophy -- how would you describe what makes us unique?
J: Rock n Roll manufacturing has always been the game. Be audacious / individual and poke at the norms. break down the walls that were never there in the process and dont subsribe to the old adage that everything has been done. Ive found theirs two artists - ones that think its all been done so they want to know everything and design within that --- which I think is brilliant because they truly reflect like prisms off all the world provides. and then there is a bit of a quiet / stoic type - who doesnt ask for it all -- and is happy and grateful for a purer substrate. takes in the world more like an observed shadow - and feels obligated to express and validate as they venture out into the abyss. the honesty and authenticity of simply not knowing but seeking independence and expression allows you to be more innocent.. and I think we live more in this vein.
E: I really want to emphasize our phrase “We Carry Everything” and what it means both literally and figuratively. We focus on exceptional customer service and helping our clients get their perfect order of totes so they can act as brand ambassador’s out in the world – we really want to help carry their stories everywhere they and their customers go.
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7. How do ethics, local production, and design play into our brand identity?
E: Most suppliers focus on big numbers, far reach, and ever increasing speed of doing things. I’d like to think of Tote Suite as a way to get quality bags made locally, slowing down to natural human speeds for our clients, while still delivering an exceptional product. Designing and producing locally means we get to oversee the full scope of the product making sure no corners are cut ethically or design wise, and everyone can benefit from that.
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8. What excites you about the team we’re building and the way we work together?
J: We're a team now: 14 people and growing. individuals. creatives. amazing humans. its a family now.
families have many heads and arms and its real.
thats what we are.
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9. If Tote Suite were a person, what kind of personality would it have?
E: You know that kid in high school who was somehow friends with all the different groups, interweaving between the basketball team, concert band, and drama and arts clubs? They were somehow cool but still managing to be a bit nerdy, making friends with the teachers albeit usually getting a uniform infraction or maybe sent to the principal’s office for goofing off in class too much. All this happening while still getting good enough grades to make their parent’s happy and get into a college of their choosing. Yea, that’s us – that’s Tote Suite.
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10. What’s the vision for Tote Suite over the next year?
J: We go big and stay home when we can. But I hope to travel to India and other locales where the organic cotton begins - and forget a connection between land and hand of our consumers. We do this and we learn more about the communication of such intentions.
E: I want to build and establish the brand as a leader in the wholesale space, the easy choice for our clients to order great quality, printed bags. I’d also like to really have some fun with it and work with different makers and online creators in a way that breathes some life into the brand and why we do what we do.
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11. What kind of collaborations or projects do you hope we’ll take on?
E: I’d love to work with different artists and companies that I really admire. Would also be really fun to do a run of product for a video game developer or maybe an author. Actually I guess I’m realizing I'm really open for all kinds of collaborations, and more than happy to bring the right projects to life.
