Cloth bags have many great qualities: they look great, they can fit in a small pocket when folded up, and they are extremely eco-friendly because they can be used over and over again – and some of them are even produced with “upcycled” materials like discarded clothing or textiles, making them doubly green. As part of our series honoring Earth Day in Budapest, we rounded up diverse types of cool cloth bags available all around Budapest, with some featuring city scenery and Hungarian motifs to make them resource-saving souvenirs that will surely turn heads at your hometown supermarket.
1/10
Artushka
In this treasure chest of handmade Hungarian goods we can find some unique canvas bags with funny designs. The one with the green and gray cats sitting on Buda and Pest almost screams out for your shoulder. Just be cautious, as with all these one-of-a-kind tidbits around you it is easy to get tempted and fill the new bag with other newfound design items.
Address: Budapest 1072, Klauzál utca 4
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2/10
BudaPest Collection
A rapidly rushing tram, a colorfully lit fountain, random street art, and creatively captured landmark photos taken from a fresh perspective – all of these uniquely modern visions of the Magyar metropolis are found printed on the beautiful canvass bags from the BudaPest Collection, available at two locations: Lovebug Vintage on the Buda side, and at the Paloma concept store on the Pest side. These cool and unique tote bags are all inspired by the moods, sights, and lights of 21st-century Budapest, and reflect the pleasant pulse of the city.
3/10
Café Analóg
Café Analóg on Kazinczy Street may not be the first place one would think of during a search for cloth bags, as this small shop specializes in providing everything required for analog photography, from cameras to film. Yet this could just be the place to find a new tote, especially for shutterbug shoppers – the bags on sale here display designs that celebrate the living tradition of film photography.
4/10
Insitu (Closed)
This downtown design shop is a hidden gem that is accessed from a courtyard that links the bustling Small Boulevard and Magyar Street. There’s plenty to look at here, as the store is a colorful carnival of fun products by Hungarian and international designers, including some pretty impressive tote bags of various colors and patterns, featuring everything from Heroes’ Square to artichokes. This is one of the city’s leading outlets for purchasing cloth bags featuring playful artworks from the Little Hungaropedia book series.
5/10
KlassDSign
The two young designers of KlassDSign make truly unique and special tote bags out of denim and canvas, each enhanced with a positive phrase or quote about love and life for adventurous, open-minded, and curious people. These bags are simple, practical, stylish, and spacious, perfectly adaptable to almost all outfits, and can be further accessorized with colorful and changeable bows or mustaches. The girls have recently opened a shop as well, so besides online purchases, now everyone can get hold of the beautiful bags at their store that they operate jointly with Wild Flower Bar.
6/10
Memories Of Hungary - Basilica
Memories of Hungary is a souvenir chain store that has multiple locations around Budapest. Among the quality presents they offer, we can find some cloth bags, and given the profile of the store it’s no surprise that they usually have designs showcasing Magyar motifs or Budapest sights by local artists and producers.
7/10
Paprika Market
Budapest-themed bags, canvas carriers with odd-looking owls, or pretty photos of the city’s sights printed on totes can all be found amongst the wide selection of Paprika Market, which includes all kinds of Magyar mementos, from local delicacies through a huge assortment of fridge magnets and mugs to cool clothes and bags to take pieces of Hungary home. Budapest’s biggest souvenir market is now open at the ever-busy Vörösmarty Square, awaiting visitors with a truly traditional atmosphere.
Address: Budapest 1052, Vörösmarty tér 1
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8/10
Printa
Printa is a multifunctional place with great coffee, nice prints, and yes, canvas bags. Since they sell most of their products in limited editions, the styles always change, but they have something in common: they are all unique, eco-friendly accessories, often created by some of Hungary’s most promising young artists. If you are lucky enough and catch one of their workshops, you can even screen-print your own tote bag.
9/10
Retrock
The pieces Retrock offers are often made of used and recycled materials that get another chance to shine. Their creative canvas bags are not too bold, often ornamented with a pretty flower, or a plain pattern. They are unique yet simple, perfectly accessorize all outfits, and can even hold all the other stuff you might possibly gather during your visit to Retrock, as the shelves are crammed with cool clothes and accessories carefully picked by the vintage shop’s stylish team.
10/10
Szputnyik Shop
Over two floors and at two separate stores, Szputnyik offers new and old pieces alike, as they combine vintage items and brand-new designs. The coolest clothes – such as crop tops, rock-band shirts, festival outfits, and some provocative pieces – are all found here, and the same countercultural style applies to their bags as well, which are adorned with a punk print, a simple pattern, or a band logo. These bags can be colorful or simple, they go well with everything, and you will certainly not see them everywhere on the street, as they can be decorated with such random patterns as a dangerous-looking dragon standing on chicken legs.
