If the 40-degree weather has you frantically booking your next holiday, we get you. While you might be on the hunt for Instagrammable outfits, no vacation wardrobe is truly complete without a bag that can hold everything you need on the go. This season, we’re making the case for the Indian jhola—aka the OG tote bag.
Long synonymous with everyday errands and grocery shopping and as an arts college student staple, the jhola has gotten a cheerful summer update. A whole bunch of homegrown brands have come up with their own takes on the humble carryall—think colourful stripes, crochet, block prints in sunshine colours—making it more than just a boring sidekick. They’re roomy, unfussy, and anything but basic.
The wider world has also been catching up to its charm. In Paris, a version of the bag is currently having a moment as a cool-mum staple, with the brand Call It By Your Name offering personalised bandana-print versions embroidered with their children’s names. Parisian mums might have their €200 iteration, but closer to home the jhola delivers the same joyous and practical appeal at a fraction of the price.
Whether you’re building sandcastles on the beach or kayaking in the backwaters, these bags will be by your side this summer holiday—and probably many more after. Below, jholas by Indian brands to consider adding to cart for the season:
