What Are Varsity Bags? Style, Uses and How to Personalise Them
A varsity bag is a canvas tote or shopper with a classic American college look: a natural body combined with a contrasting colour on the handles or base, often printed with a crest, a club name or bold block lettering.
The name comes from "varsity", the word for a university's first sports team, and the style borrows from the varsity jacket with its contrast sleeves and team badges. For companies, schools and event organisers, a varsity tote bag is a simple way to give branded merchandise a sporty, timeless look that people are happy to carry every day.
This guide explains what makes a bag "varsity", why the style is popular, who buys it, and how to personalise varsity bags with your own logo, crest or event name.
What is a varsity bag with custom print or embroidery?
In this article
- What is a varsity bag?
- Why are varsity bags so popular right now?
- What can you use a varsity bag for?
- Who likes varsity tote bags?
- How can you personalise a varsity bag for an event or brand?
- Varsity shopper vs coloured handle tote: which one to choose?
- FAQ
What is a varsity bag?
There is no official standard, but when people talk about varsity bags, they usually mean a bag with three features:
- Two colours. A natural or cream canvas body with handles and a base in a darker contrast colour such as black, navy or green.
- Sturdy canvas. Varsity bags are usually heavier than a promotional cotton bag, closer to a shopper than a giveaway.
- A college-style print. An emblem, crest, monogram, year or name in bold letters, placed on the front like a badge.
Our Organic Canvas Varsity Shopper follows this pattern exactly.
The body is 407 g/m² GOTS-certified organic cotton canvas, the base and the 65 cm handles are in a contrast colour, and there is room for 20 litres inside thanks to side and bottom gussets.
Why are varsity bags so popular right now?
Varsity style is part of a bigger return of preppy, collegiate fashion.
For autumn and winter 2026, fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tory Burch and Polo Ralph Lauren have shown varsity jackets with "block colours, contrast sleeves, and preppy badges" (Apparel Resources).
A varsity tote bag brings exactly the same elements to an everyday bag: block colour, contrast, and a badge-style print.
There are also practical reasons varsity bags stay popular:
- They look designed, not promotional. The contrast handles do half the design work, so even a small logo looks finished.
- They go with almost everything. Natural canvas with black or navy is easy to wear with work clothes, sportswear or a weekend outfit.
- They last. A heavy canvas varsity bag keeps its shape and is used for years, which is exactly what you want from a branded bag.
What can you use a varsity bag for?
A varsity shopper is a bag for daily use. With 37 × 36 × 16 cm and 20 litres of space, it fits:
- a laptop, notebooks and a water bottle for school, university or the office
- a gym kit or a change of clothes
- groceries or a market shop
- books, a towel and a picnic for the weekend
The external slip pockets keep a phone, keys or a travel card within reach, and the long handles can be carried by hand or over the shoulder.
407 g/m² GOTS organic canvas, black base and handles, 37 × 36 × 16 cm. €14.56 per bag at 25 pieces, €11.43 at 100 pieces, 1 colour print included.
See the Natural/Black varsity shopper →Who likes varsity tote bags?
Varsity tote bags appeal to anyone who wants a bag with a sense of belonging.
The style says "team", "club" or "class", which is why it works so well for:
- Universities and schools. Campus shops, alumni associations, student unions and welcome packs. A varsity bag feels like part of the university's own merchandise, not a freebie.
- Sports clubs and teams. Football, rowing, tennis, running and padel clubs can match the handle colour to the club colours.
- Companies and teams. Team days, onboarding kits and staff gifts. A varsity shopper tells employees they are part of the team.
- Fashion, lifestyle and concept stores. Brands that sell their own merchandise, or want a reusable shopping bag that looks good enough to sell.
- Cafés, bookshops and coffee roasters. A sturdy shopper with a crest-style logo fits the classic, slightly nostalgic feel many of these brands have.
- Students and young adults. They are the ones carrying these bags every day, which is why a varsity bag makes such a good campus or event gift.
If your audience is students, young professionals or members of a club, a varsity bag speaks their language.
How can you personalise a varsity bag for an event or brand?
This is where a varsity bag becomes your own.
The bag already has the college look, so the print only needs to complete it.
1. Choose a crest or emblem. A round or shield-shaped logo looks like a team badge on a varsity bag. If you do not have a crest, a monogram or your logo inside a simple circle works just as well.
2. Use varsity lettering. Bold, blocky or arched letters are the signature of the style. Think "ALUMNI 2026", "TEAM NORDIC" or your company name in capitals above a small icon.
3. Add a year or a number. "Est. 1998", "Class of 2026" or an event date turns the bag into a keepsake. This works especially well for graduations, anniversaries, reunions and annual conferences.
4. Match the print to the handles. A black print on the Natural/Black bag, a navy print on the Natural/French Navy bag or a green print on the Natural/Bottle Green bag gives a clean, coordinated look with a one colour screen print, which is also the most affordable option.
5. Go full colour when you need it. For a detailed crest, a photo or a logo with gradients, choose a full colour DTF print instead of screen printing.
Good to know before you design:
- The maximum print area is 16 × 17 cm, so this bag suits compact logos, crests, monograms and short text rather than large all-over artwork.
- The print is included in the price, together with a digital proof and delivery within the EU. Prices are shown excluding VAT.
- The minimum order is 25 pieces per design.
- This model is marked with an extended delivery time, so order well ahead of your event date.
Prefer embroidery instead of print?
The varsity shopper is made from heavy 407 g/m² organic canvas, and that makes it a very good bag for embroidery.
The thick fabric holds dense stitching without puckering, so a stitched crest, monogram or club name looks sharp and lasts for years. Embroidery on the varsity shopper is available on request through our custom embroidery service.
Send us your logo and quantity, and we will turn your design into a stitch file and match your brand colours to thread colours. You will get a digital proof showing exactly how the embroidery will look on the bag before anything is made.
Embroidery is priced by stitch count rather than by the number of bags, and delivery takes 15 business days from your written approval of the proof. Request a quote to get your price.
Event ideas for personalised varsity bags:
| Event | Print idea | Bag colour |
|---|---|---|
| Graduation or alumni day | University crest and "Class of 2026" | Natural/French Navy |
| Sports tournament or club season | Club emblem and season year | Natural/Bottle Green or Natural/Black |
| Company team day or onboarding | Company name in varsity letters | Natural/Black |
| Conference speaker or VIP bag | Event logo and date | Natural/French Navy |
| Brand merchandise or shop bag | Monogram or wordmark | Natural or Natural/Black |
The same heavyweight organic varsity shopper with a bottle green base and handles. €14.56 per bag at 25 pieces.
See the Natural/Bottle Green varsity shopper →Varsity shopper vs coloured handle tote: which one to choose?
If you like the contrast look but need a lighter bag or a larger quantity, our cotton tote bags with coloured handles give a similar effect at a lower price.
They are flat 140 g/m² natural cotton totes with handles in black, navy blue, red, fuchsia pink or lime green.
| Varsity shopper | Coloured handle tote | |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | 407 g/m² organic canvas (GOTS) | 140 g/m² cotton |
| Shape | Gusseted, 37 × 36 × 16 cm, 20 litres | Flat, 38 × 42 cm |
| Contrast | Handles and base | Handles only |
| Feel | Premium, sturdy, retail quality | Light, colourful, event-friendly |
| Price at 25 pieces (1 colour print) | €14.56 per bag | €7.69 per bag |
| Best for | Gifts, alumni, merchandise, VIP bags | Events, fairs, welcome bags, large runs |
In short: choose the varsity shopper when the bag should feel like a gift or a product people buy, and choose the coloured handle tote when you need many bags for an event.
Our article on coloured handle tote bags explains more about how handle colour works with your branding.
A lighter, budget-friendly contrast look. €7.69 per bag at 25 pieces.
See the navy handle tote bag →Frequently asked questions
What is a varsity bag?
A varsity bag is a canvas tote or shopper in a college style, usually with a natural body, handles and a base in a contrast colour, and a crest, emblem or bold lettering printed on the front.
Why is it called a varsity bag?
"Varsity" is the name for a university's first sports team in the US and UK. The bag borrows its look from the varsity jacket, with contrast colours and a badge-style logo.
Can I print my own logo on a varsity bag?
Yes. A varsity bag with custom print can carry a logo, crest, monogram, or short text up to 16 × 17 cm. You can choose a screen print in 1 to 5 colours or a full colour DTF print.
What is the minimum order for custom varsity bags?
The minimum order is 25 pieces per design. At 25 pieces, a varsity bag with a one-colour print costs €14.56, and the price per bag drops as the quantity goes up.
Are varsity bags good for corporate gifts?
Yes. A heavy, organic varsity bag feels like a real product rather than a promotional item, so people keep using it. The GOTS certification also helps if your company has sustainability requirements.
Can I see how my design looks before production?
Yes. Every order gets a digital proof of your design on the bag, and nothing goes into production until you approve it.
Want a varsity bag with your own crest, club name, or logo?
Choose your colour and quantity and upload your design, or request a quote for a larger order.
Choose your varsity bag → Request a quote →
About Prints & Bags
Prints & Bags is a European B2B supplier of custom-printed and embroidered pouches, jute bags and cotton tote bags, sold directly through our online catalogue. Choose a bag, upload your logo, and order online — from 25 pieces, with free EU shipping, a free digital proof, and production in 10–15 working days after approval.
