White label means you pick one of our tote styles, choose the fabric and colour, and we add your print, label and packaging. Private label means we make the bag to your own design or tech pack, which we take case by case and confirm at quotation.
Most buyers choosing between white label or private label totes are really asking a simpler question: do our existing bags already do what you need? If they do, white label is the shorter route. If they do not, private label may be worth exploring. The answers below cover what buyers ask us most.
What exactly can I choose with white label?
With white label tote bags, you start from our four styles:
- Canvas tote, in cotton canvas or jute-cotton;
- Printed tote, in cotton canvas or jute-cotton;
- Zip tote, in cotton canvas or jute-cotton;
- Drawstring bag, in cotton canvas.
Within those styles, a lot is still yours to decide. Bag width, height, gusset and handle length are agreed for each style and confirmed at quotation. You choose natural or dyed colours from the fabric options. A zip tote can have an inner pocket or lining added. Then you choose the branding: screen print, embroidery or heat transfer on the outside, and a woven or printed label, hang tag and packing.
So white label is not a single fixed bag. It is a set of proven builds that you size, colour and brand.
When would I need private label instead?
Private label makes sense when the bag itself is the product idea, and none of our styles is close to it. Examples include:
- a bag with a construction we do not normally make, such as several compartments or a special closure;
- a shape that is different from a tote or drawstring bag;
- a design you have drawn up in a tech pack, with your own measurements and trims.
We review private label requests one by one. Send the tech pack or drawings and we confirm what is possible at quotation. If a request is outside what we make, we say so rather than promise it.
How do the two compare?
| Question | White label | Private label |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Our tote styles | Your design or tech pack |
| What you choose | Size, fabric, colour, branding, packing | The whole bag |
| Sampling | Sample of our style with your branding | Sample built to your spec |
| Availability | Standard range | Confirmed case by case |
| Suits | Most brands, retailers, events | Brands with a distinct bag design |
Both routes follow the same process: enquiry, quotation, sample, advance payment, production, quality check and dispatch. An advance starts production, and the balance is paid before dispatch.
Is the minimum order different?
For our white label tote bags, the minimum is 50 pieces per style. More than one colour can sit within that style, and the colour split is confirmed at quotation. For private label, the minimum and any extra conditions are confirmed with the quotation, as they depend on the design.
Our page on how white label works explains the route from first enquiry to dispatch in more detail.
Will the bag look like a generic bag?
Not if the branding is planned well. Many shoppers decide whether a tote feels like a brand or a giveaway from a few details:
- A sewn label. A woven label in the side seam or inside gives a retail finish.
- Fabric choice. Heavier canvas stands up on its own and feels sturdier; jute-cotton has a textured, natural look.
- Print quality and placement. A well-sized print, placed with care, looks deliberate.
- Handles. Long handles for the shoulder or short handles for the hand change how the bag is used.
- Packing. A folded, bagged tote with a hang tag reads as a product.
These are all white label choices, which is why most buyers do not need private label to get a bag that feels like their own.
Can I start with white label and move to private label later?
Yes. Many brands start with a white label tote to test demand, then develop a more specific design once they know what their buyers want. Your artwork, label and tag files carry over, so the brand stays consistent.
What should I send to get started?
For white label, send the style, fabric, size, colours and quantity, your artwork, and the print or embroidery you want. Say whether you need folding, bagging or labels, and whether the bag needs a zip or pocket.
For private label, send the tech pack or drawings, any reference photos, the fabric you have in mind and the quantity.
You can see the full range on our white label tote bags page. We take enquiries from buyers worldwide. Shipping method, terms and documents are confirmed in the quotation.