Drawstring, Tote, and Non-Woven Bags: Choosing a Branded Giveaway Bag

A single-cord closure and a simple pouch shape, usually in polyester or cotton. The lightest and cheapest of the three, and the standard choice for sports and gym-branded giveaways, swimming-kit bags, or anything where the recipient needs to sling it over one shoulder rather than carry it by hand. Screen printing handles large logo runs well; non-woven bags at a similar price point are a close alternative if drawstring closure isn't a requirement.

Made from bonded polypropylene fibre rather than woven fabric — visually similar to a fabric tote at a noticeably lower cost, which is exactly why it's the most common bag at trade shows and conferences where thousands of units go out over a few days. It's sturdy enough for a folder, a bottle, and some literature, but not built for repeated heavy use the way a genuine cotton tote is — treat it as a single-event giveaway, not a bag meant to last years.

Cotton, canvas, or jute, with reinforced handles built to be reused — the bag people actually keep and carry around after the event, which makes it the right choice when ongoing brand visibility matters more than per-unit cost. It's the most expensive of the three, and the quality difference between a thin cotton tote and a heavier canvas one is real and worth specifying rather than leaving to "whatever's available."

As a rule of thumb:

Screen printing is the standard branding method for all three at volume — one or two spot colours keeps cost down and reads clearly on both woven and non-woven fabric. Minimums typically start around 100 pieces per design; below that, DTF transfer usually works out cheaper once the screen setup cost is accounted for.