Article: How Our Basket Tote Came to Life
How Our Basket Tote Came to Life
If you’ve been following us, you’ll know we stand for better materials and quality at a fair price. The Basket Tote reflects a more intentional way of making — produced made-to-order, with fewer samples and less waste — allowing us to offer it at a considered price without compromising on what matters.
Even our “final” sample isn’t quite absolute. While the overall shape and sizing are locked, we’re still making small refinements — finishing touches and micro updates — without creating another full sample. It’s all part of making the process thoughtful, lean, and sustainable.
We also sampled just one colourway, Honey Oat, while developing Cookies & Cream and Lemon Tart through swatch testing, intuition, and a little Photoshop magic. Keeping things lean lets us focus our resources where they matter most.
As a small thank-you for supporting this way of making, all MTO Basket Totes come with a matching essentials pouch — a gesture we were happy to include.
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We went through three main samples of the Basket Tote. The images below capture part of our journey — a small photo diary of how it came to life.
Sample 001 -- Produced in June 2025
This was our very first take on the Basket silhouette. I loved how unstructured and carefree it felt — floppy in the best way. Still, I couldn’t imagine it ageing gracefully. I don’t baby my bags at all, and this one would’ve lost its shape quickly. The narrow base also meant it didn’t hold as much as I’d hoped.
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Sample 002 -- Produced in August 2025
By the second sample, the Basket’s structure was finally coming together. We were close, but had overcorrected — it felt a little too practical and boxy. Bringing back softness in the proportions became the next focus.
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I was initially drawn to a dark woody maple and beige canvas pairing. It was striking, but it didn’t feel like the Basket I had in mind. I imagined something natural and soft that complements everything, adding quiet depth without demanding attention. A basket carried casually without a second thought, unprecious yet unforgettable.
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Everything clicked when we discovered a sturdier woven canvas, paired with a natural, lived-in palette. Honey Oat and Cookies & Cream became our anchors, and Lemon Tart added a subtle cheerful lift. We didn’t physically sample every colour — a conscious choice to keep the process lean, thoughtful, and sustainable.
And that’s how we landed on the final Basket Tote design — a balance of function, proportion, and effortless charm. We hope it becomes a part of your everyday adventures.
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