Trader Joe’s is bringing back the viral mini-tote frenzy with a new striped, insulated canvas bag arriving mid-June. The striped mini tote will be available in stores starting Wednesday, June 17, with shoppers already bracing for the same long-line energy and
For a lot of Trader Joe’s shoppers, “tote girl summer” isn’t a slogan—it’s a schedule. And this year’s calendar date is mid-June.
The California-based chain is set to stock a new insulated mini tote bag: a striped canvas bag that’s expected to hit shelves in mid-June and go on sale in stores starting Wednesday, June 17. The news was shared by company spokeswoman Nakia Rhode, who said availability will vary by store.
The new tote is built for everyday runs. Trader Joe’s says it’s made from a 65% cotton/35% polyester blend fabric and includes a pocket on each side. Each bag measures about 13 inches long. 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide. and it will cost $2.99—keeping the same price point as previous mini totes sold by Trader Joe’s.
It’s also coming in four striped colors, continuing the seasonal pull that has turned these small bags into must-haves. Trader Joe’s has released earlier versions of mini canvas tote bags that went viral and sold out with every recent new release. and the new stripes are expected to draw the same kind of attention.
Shoppers don’t all use the bags the same way. Some people reuse them as gift bags. Others treat them as something fun to carry a project—like a knitting setup—or fill them with library books or a small picnic lunch. And for some, the appeal is simpler: they collect them.
The chain also keeps a close eye on what happens after the shelves sell out. The company has said resale demand has stretched beyond local shoppers and into international markets. Rhode also said the tote has been copied by duplicates being sold outside Trader Joe’s stores. adding that the company has filed a lawsuit to protect customers from being misled.
“We are aware that some knockoff totes are being sold online,” Rhode said in an email. She added that the lawsuit is meant to “protect our customers from being misled.”
Rhode emphasized the brand’s approach to keeping sales inside its own stores. “It’s very important to us that our customers are getting what they’ve paid for,” she said. “That’s one of the reasons we only offer Trader Joe’s products for sale inside Trader Joe’s stores. This enables us to put our customers first, ensuring they’re getting authentic Trader Joe’s products.”.
The striped mini tote isn’t showing up alone in the memory of shoppers’ recent purchases. Trader Joe’s sold pastel-colored mini tote bags in mid-March. in delicate pink. baby blue. mint green and lovely lavender. as part of a viral seasonal tote and mini-tote trend that previously included Halloween-themed colors and the original canvas mini totes. Last month, the company also sold insulated mini totes in six vibrant colors.
For New York shoppers, the scramble has an extra reason to feel real: there are 38 Trader Joe’s locations in the state, according to the company’s website. They include:
Amherst: 1565 Niagara Falls Blvd.
Colonie: 79 Wolf Road
Halfmoon: 3 Halfmoon Crossing Blvd.
Ithaca: 744 South Meadow St.
Pittsford: 3349 Monroe Ave.
Syracuse: 3422 Erie Blvd. East
Williamsville: 5017 Transit Road
If you’re hunting this one, the company points people to its store locator on its website to find the nearest location—because with these totes, the timing matters almost as much as the stripes.
Trader Joe’s striped mini tote insulated mini tote June 17 tote girl summer canvas mini tote viral tote bag Nakia Rhode