The new icon of the book world.

Since the rise of the BookTok community, the culture of using tote bags (large bags with handles on both sides) has spread strongly among book lovers, according to The Bookseller.

Photo: Esquire .

As of June 5th, the hashtag #totebags had been used in over 578,300 posts about books on TikTok.

A tote bag that expresses personality with books.

“The tote bag culture is very popular on BookTok,” shared user Nate, who has 2,800 followers on the platform. “A tote bag designed to suit a book lover’s taste can help you express your love of books,” added Berta, who has over 2,434 followers.

Hannah, who has over 12,200 followers on TikTok, said, “The tote bag is both a fun and practical way to show a passion for books.” Berta added, “People often talk about certain items that avid readers typically own, likening them to a ‘essentials set.’ The star of this set is the tote bag, along with a desk lamp, crafts, and even a matcha latte.”

Evie, with nearly 6,000 followers on the BookTok community, also describes this type of bag as a “must-have item in any reader’s wardrobe… Readers will go crazy for a tote bag, especially one featuring artwork by independent artists.”

Status in the book industry

Nate stated, "Bags featuring images from specific novels and series also reflect status. I have to admit, when I see someone carrying a super rare tote bag, I immediately think they're really cool."

Nate also stated that the publisher's tote bags "give off an intellectual and academic feel... I wanted to create the image of an intellectual, even though I'm not the smartest person."

Berta explained, “The publisher’s tote bags, especially those given away at invitation-only events, can be considered symbolic. Those bags represent your specific status within the readership and BookTok community. They’re also unique because it’s difficult for the average person to know what the bag symbolizes.”

The demand for tote bags, gifts for events, or as part of specific book promotional packages is "high," Heather noted.

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For example, Penguin's tote bags "are seen as iconic because they help identify the user as a book reader," according to Berta.

Hannah and Nate also both love the Faber publisher tote bag they own. Hannah said, "Some bags I'd love to own are the Shakespeare & Company bag from Paris and the Notting Hill bookstore bag."

In the UK, there are several highly sought-after bag brands among book lovers, such as those from Daunt Books and Notting Hill.

Publishers, bookstores, and others are also joining the race to create their own branded bags. Photo: The Telegraph .

Tote bags help build a community of readers.

Nate found that the bags helped them strike up conversations with many book lovers: “Using the tote bag led many book lovers to talk to me. Using this type of bag is a simple way for book lovers to recognize and connect with each other.”

Evie also mentioned the conversation-starting power of a tote bag. “I love spotting unique tote bags in everyday life, like one from a specific event or a design commemorating a book launch. Tote bags can be a great way to start a conversation, especially if someone is wearing a bag associated with a book, store, or publisher you love.”

However, book lovers can easily recognize the risk of tote bags being misused. Heather writes that exclusive bags at events are essentially just a "marketing gimmick."

Megan said that some "large businesses and top mainstream bookstores are capitalizing on this trend by selling their branded bags at very high prices."

Like everything in the world of social media, people quickly get bored. People don't hate tote bags; they'll always be cute and appealing to use, but the desire to own them will diminish as they become ubiquitous in content and videos, Heather says.

To prevent the misuse of tote bags, not only in the book industry but in any industry that uses them, simply treat them as an item that expresses personality rather than emphasizing the material value or glamorous status they bring.

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“In the past, reading was considered eccentric. But now, it’s wonderful to see more and more people reading and feeling more comfortable expressing their hobby and related items, including tote bags, in public,” Berta shared her simple perspective on using this type of bag.

Source: https://znews.vn/bieu-tuong-moi-cua-gioi-sach-post1658090.html