Jute tote bag "Super Love Mom"

A French message printed on a white panel

The front of the bag carries a white fabric panel, stitched flat and outlined by a fine gold braid. Inside it, "SUPER" appears in upright capitals and "Maman d'amour" in a sloping script, with a small red heart below. The wording is French and means a much loved mum, which is worth knowing before the bag is wrapped up as a present.

A jute tote bag with the weave left visible

Beige jute canvas with a visible weave gives this tote its matt, slightly uneven surface, quite unlike smooth cotton. The handles are black fabric and stand out sharply against that beige. Apart from the print, the bag keeps to a short list of colours: beige, black, white, a line of gold and the red of the heart.

Size and colours at a glance

The data sheet lists beige and black; the white of the panel, the gold of the braid and the red of the heart all come from the printed front.

Carrying it from the market to the school run

The size suits a market run, a towel and a book for the park, or the odds and ends of a day out with a small child. The two black fabric handles are broad enough to sit comfortably in the hand when the bag is full. If the shape is right but the size is not, you can compare it with the other totes on the shelf.

Looking after jute canvas

Jute is best brushed dry: a soft brush lifts the dust that settles in the weave. Keep the bag away from damp and store it somewhere airy rather than at the back of a cupboard. The white panel takes a barely damp cloth, dabbed rather than rubbed so the lettering stays crisp.