A good work bag does a quiet kind of heavy lifting. It carries the laptop, the charger, the notebook you keep meaning to digitise, the lipstick, the umbrella you forget you packed, and it still has to look like it belongs with the outfit. Most bags pick one job. The Ikat Tote Bag was built to do both: a padded sleeve for laptops up to 14 inches, a metal zip that actually stays shut, vegan leather handles, and handwoven ikat that reads as considered rather than corporate.
It comes in three colourways: Midnight Ikat in blue, Noor in black, and Ruby Ikat in red. Each one sets a slightly different tone for the day. Here is how we would wear all three.
Midnight Ikat, the blue one: For days you want to keep calm
Blue is the easiest colour to build a workday around. The deep indigo ground and pale ikat feathering sit well against warm neutrals, so pair the Midnight Ikat with a camel or ivory kurta and straight white trousers. It is the version that looks most at home in a meeting room without trying to. If you are putting the whole look together from scratch, our guide on styling an Indo-Western kurti for office wear is a good place to start.
Noor, the black one: For when the day does not stop
Black goes with everything, which makes Noor the most versatile of the three. Subtle white ikat dashes keep it from reading flat, so it works as well over a printed kurti as it does with a plain co-ord. This is the one to reach for when you are moving between a desk, a commute and an errand without a wardrobe change. For choosing the kurti underneath it, see how to choose the right kurti for your body type.
Ruby Ikat, the red one: For evenings that follow the office
Red carries a look from desk to dinner without any effort on your part. Deep ruby ikat warms up a muted outfit, so it pairs naturally with a rose co-ord or a maroon kurta in the same family. Add a hand block-printed Nilufar Modal Silk Stole over the shoulder and the daytime tote quietly becomes evening.
The details that do the work
All three share the same build. A padded laptop sleeve holds devices up to 14 inches with extra cushioning. A premium metal zip glides smoothly and stays secure. Inside there is a zip pocket and slip pockets for the small things. And the ikat itself is woven by hand from homegrown cotton, a resist-dyed technique where the yarn is dyed before weaving, which is why the motif has that soft, feathered edge and why no two pieces are exactly alike. Each tote is handcrafted in Ahmedabad.
Finishing the kit
A tote is the anchor; the small things finish it. Slip the Katha Fabric Diary into the front pocket for notes that do not live on a screen. If you like building a look around handmade pieces, read why handmade accessories elevate every ethnic outfit. And when you are ready to add to the everyday kit, browse the full accessories collection.
Three colourways, one tote, made for the way you actually move through a day. Shop the Ikat Tote Bag.