Our story

A print you can carry

Last updated November 12, 2025

Marlowthorn began with a simple complaint: the bags we carried every day were either plain canvas or plastered with slogans. We wanted something that felt more like a picture you'd hang on the wall.

No. 01The idea

So we started creating original artwork, the kind you might find in an old botanical book, a bookbinder's workshop or a travel poster from a seaside station, and printing it edge to edge across both sides of sturdy canvas. The result is a tote that works as hard as any shopping bag but looks like you chose it on purpose.

No. 02The name

Marlowthorn comes from two English country words: marl, the soft soil of old meadows, and thorn, as in hawthorn, the hedgerow shrub that flowers white every May. It sums up what we like best: things with roots, a bit of wildness and a long, useful life.

No. 03Three collections

• Hedgerow: hawthorn, bramble, foxglove, elder and wild rose, the lanes and field edges we love.
• Reading Room: stacked books, marbled endpapers and writing-desk treasures, for anyone who carries a novel everywhere.
• Market Day: lemons, flower stalls, harbour towns and lavender lanes, for errands close to home and trips far away.

No. 04How every tote is made

Each one is the same practical shape: roughly 16 x 16 inches with a 4 inch gusset, heavyweight woven canvas, long reinforced handles that sit on the shoulder and a slip pocket inside. Only the artwork changes, so you can choose purely for love of the picture.

No. 05How we look after you

Shipping is $7.99 flat, and free on orders of $100 or more. You have 30 days to change your mind. And our customer service email is available 24/7, so there's always someone to ask.