Trader Joe's will put a new striped mini tote bag on shelves Wednesday, June 17, adding another collectible item to a product line that has already drawn long lines and quick sellouts. The bags will cost $2.99 each and come in four striped pastel colors, with sales limited to stores.
The compact tote measures 13 inches long, 11 inches tall and 6 inches wide, and Trader Joe's says the heavy-duty cotton-and-polyester bag is meant for smaller shopping trips or picking up a few forgotten items. Each one has a pocket on either side, a practical touch for a product that has become as much a collector's item as a grocery carryall.
The new release is the latest entry in Trader Joe's expanding lineup of collectible bags, which took off after the mini totes went viral on social media in March 2024. Since then, the company has brought back pastel mini canvas totes and introduced a new large canvas bag, while shoppers and resellers have kept pressure on supply.
That demand has also created a market the company does not control. Trader Joe's said it has recently filed a lawsuit to protect customers from knockoff tote bags, and it said it only offers its products for sale inside its stores. The gap between limited supply and heavy interest is part of what has made the bags hard to get, especially when a new style appears.
The June 17 release is now the next test of that appetite. Trader Joe's has not said how many striped mini totes will be available, and that leaves shoppers with one clear reality: if they want one, they will need to show up early and hope the bags last.
