Custom flat-bottom tote bags for retail brands, fashion lines, music merch, beach/pool collections, conventions, and anyone whose project needs a tote that stands up on its own (and holds bigger or bulkier contents than a flat tote can). The gusseted 13" × 6" × 15" shape gives the bag real interior volume and a flat base, with optional zipper closure for designs where security matters. Sublimated full-color polyester, no color count limits, all-over print.
Alchemy is a production partner built by artists, musicians, and brand owners. We've helped creators produce over 5 million custom products since 2019, and we don't operate like a promotional products company. Whether you're an indie illustrator running your first 50-piece drop, a band making merch for a tour, or a designer ordering for a brand launch, our job is the same: make the best merch we can for you.
Why flat-bottom is different
Standard flat tote bags fold flat when empty and don't hold their shape — fine for casual everyday carry, but they look saggy on a retail display and don't stand up on their own when set down. Flat-bottom totes have a gusseted base (a 6" wide rectangular bottom panel) that gives them structure: they stand upright on a shelf, hold their shape when filled, and feel substantially more like a bag and less like a folded piece of fabric.
That makes flat-bottom totes the right pick when:
- The tote is going on retail display where it needs to stand up
- You're shipping something inside it (gift packaging, subscription box, conference welcome kit)
- The contents are bulky or oddly shaped (water bottles, books, beach gear)
- Your buyer will use it as their everyday bag where structure matters
If your tote will live folded in a back pocket or a drawer between uses, the standard sublimated tote or screen-printed tote is probably a better fit.
What you get
- Dimensions: 13" wide × 6" flat bottom × 15" tall (gusseted base)
- Material: 12oz / 320 gsm polyester canvas (sublimation requires polyester)
- Print: Full-color CMYK sublimation, edge-to-edge all-over
- No color count limits — full-color photo-realistic art works
- Optional zipper closure: add at order time. $0.75/bag under 500 units, $0.60/bag over 500. Black or white zipper.
- Custom sizes available on request for any dimension your project needs
- Express shipping included
Other tote bag options we offer
- Standard sublimated tote bags — 40cm × 35cm flat shape on the same polyester canvas. Best for casual everyday carry where structure isn't important.
- Screen-printed cotton tote bags — cotton canvas with screen printing (1-2 colors) or DTF (full color). Better when you want a cotton feel.
How a run actually works
Most orders start with a quote, not a cart. You send us your artwork (vector preferred for clean lines, raster works for full-color), and we come back with pricing, a production timeline, and any production notes within a business day or two. We'll flag anything in the file that won't translate well at production size before we move forward.
From proof approval, most overseas products are about a month to your door. That's the nature of producing 100% custom merchandise overseas vs. shipping a stock promotional item. Shipping is express and included in the price.
If you have a hard deadline, tell us before you order. We don't charge rush fees. We'll either confirm we can hit your date or tell you up front that we can't, so you can plan around it.
Why our minimum is 50
It's a factory math thing, not a quality stance. The factories we work with charge a labor minimum that covers setup, mold use, proofing, and the production run itself. That floor barely changes between a 25-piece and a 50-piece order, so a 25-piece run costs almost the same as 50 with half the output. 50 is where the per-piece price actually starts to make sense.
We can run smaller hard sample runs if you really need to (the factory will do it), but it's not financially viable for most people: you're paying close to 50-piece pricing for a fraction of the output. If you're set on a small run, email us first and we'll walk through whether it's worth it. Larger runs (100, 200, and up) bring the per-piece cost down meaningfully.
Who we work with
Artists running their own work: illustrators, bands, indie brand owners, podcasters, comic creators, convention sellers. Designers ordering for a brand launch, an event, a campaign, or a customer giveaway. Agencies and design studios producing merch for their clients. Merch companies running production for the artists they represent. The common thread is that the merch matters: it's representing a brand, a band, an artist, or a project that someone cares about.
What you get with Alchemy
- 5+ million products produced for creators and brands since 2019.
- 100% money-back guarantee. If it's not right, we remake it at no cost or refund you in full.
- Long-standing factory relationships. We've been working with the same vetted overseas factories for years. Consistent quality, predictable timelines, no chasing the lowest quote at the cost of the product. You get a US-based partner who handles the production logistics for you.
- Quality good enough for licensed brands. We've produced merch for officially licensed properties and large brands. The same standard goes on every order, including yours.
- A team of artists, musicians, and brand owners. Not customer-service reps trained on a script. Everyone proofing your file knows what it feels like to send their own art to a factory and hope it comes back right.
Common questions
How is this different from a standard tote bag?
Standard totes are flat — they fold to nothing when empty and saggy when full. Flat-bottom totes have a 6" gusseted base that gives them structure: they stand up on their own, hold shape when filled, and look more substantial as merchandise. Pick flat-bottom when the tote needs to stand up, hold bulky contents, or live on a retail shelf.
Can I add a zipper to the top?
Yes. Optional zipper closure at order time: $0.75 per bag for orders under 500 units, $0.60 per bag for orders over 500. Choose black or white zipper. Useful when contents need to stay secure (events, travel, gym/beach use).
Why polyester instead of cotton?
Sublimation printing requires polyester — the dye bonds permanently with polyester fibers and becomes part of the material. Cotton can't accept sublimation the same way. If you want a cotton tote, see our screen-printed cotton totes, which use a different print process suited to cotton.
What artwork format works best?
High-resolution raster (300 DPI at print size) or vector with embedded raster elements both work. CMYK is ideal; RGB converts and we proof carefully. PSD or PNG with transparent background works for raster-only artists.
Can I do custom sizes?
Yes. The 13" × 6" × 15" standard works for most uses, but we can produce custom dimensions on request. Email us with your size and quantity for a quote.
Can I do multiple designs in one order?
Yes. Multiple designs are allowed at 50-piece increments: 100 = 50/50, 200 = 50×4. Each design is its own production run because each needs its own print setup.
How long do flat-bottom totes take?
About four weeks from proof approval to your door, including express shipping. No rush fees.
Do I see a proof before production?
Yes. Digital proof showing how your design wraps on the gusseted shape (which can be unintuitive — the side panels and bottom are seen at angles in use). Revisions until you approve.
Are these made in the USA?
Flat-bottom tote bags are produced overseas at long-vetted factories. Our team is US-based and handles file prep, proofing, and customer success. Our wooden products and stickers are made in the USA.
Start a quote
Send us your artwork and a rough quantity, and we'll come back with pricing and a timeline within a business day or two. Not sure if your file will work? Send what you have. We'll tell you what we'd need to make it production-ready. Start a quote.
Design Templates
Set up your artwork at the correct size with proper bleed and safe zones using our production templates. Vector files (PDF/AI/EPS) are preferred for clean lines and scaling; raster (PSD) works for full-color artwork at 300dpi.
- 13x15x6 FlatBottom ToteBag Templates (Vector + Raster bundle)
