What counts as a specialty bag?
A specialty bag does one thing well. A tote carries whatever you put in it, but a toiletry bag keeps a razor away from a shirt, a sports bag holds wet kit, and a gift bag turns a product into a present. This range covers drawstring bags, gift bags, sports bags, toiletry and cosmetic bags, cooler bags, foldable shoppers, paper bags and a few belt and sling bags, so the first decision is the job the bag has to do.
Which type of specialty bag should you choose?
Fabric decides price, feel and how the logo looks, so start there. The table sets out the main types in the range, using the materials stated on the product pages.
| Type | Typical material in the range | Usual decoration | Best for |
| Non-woven shoppers | Polypropylene, 90gsm on the Non Woven Bag without Gusset | Screen print, digital transfer | Expo and event giveaways in volume |
| Cotton and jute bags | Cotton (the small Cotton Gift Bag is 120gsm), jute shoppers | Screen print, DTF transfer | Gifts, retail, a natural look |
| Nylon and polyester shoppers | Nylon, foldable polyester | Screen print, transfer | Fold-away bags people keep in a handbag |
| Toiletry and cosmetic bags | PVC-coated polyester, clear PVC | Transfer, screen print | Travel packs, hotels, health and beauty |
| Sports and weekend bags | Polyester, including recovered ocean plastic on the SPICE Waste2Gear Weekend Sport Bag | Embroidery, transfer | Clubs, teams, staff incentives |
| Cooler bags | Nylon, polyester | Screen print, transfer | Picnics, sponsors, summer events |
| Paper bags | Kraft and laminated paper | Digital or screen print | Retail counters, trade show handouts |
For a plain giveaway where the bag will be filled and thrown in a boot, non-woven is hard to beat on cost. If the bag is the gift, move up to cotton or jute, or a gift bag sized to what goes inside. If you want one general carry bag with a big print area instead, our printed tote bags and calico bags are the better starting point.
Drawstring, sports and toiletry bags
A drawstring bag is the cheapest way to give someone something they will actually carry, which is why schools and clubs order them. Sports bags take more money and earn it back, because a gym bag or weekender goes to training every week and the logo goes with it. Toiletry and cosmetic bags sit in a bathroom or a suitcase, so the logo gets seen daily by one person, and they work well in welcome packs. Chilled drinks and lunches need our cooler bags, and retail or handout bags are covered under paper bags.
How can you decorate specialty bags?
The right method depends on the fabric and the artwork, and our artwork team confirms the final choice on your proof.
- Screen printing is what we usually recommend for non-woven, cotton, jute and nylon bags, because the ink is durable and the cost per bag falls with volume. It suits flat colours and a limited palette.
- DTF transfers give full colour, fine detail and gradients, so they suit photographic or multi-colour logos and short runs. The feel and wash life differ from screen print.
- Embroidery suits sports bags and other thicker fabrics. It reads as premium, but fine detail and tiny text do not stitch well, and the logo needs digitising first.
- Sublimation gives full-colour, all-over designs, but only on white or light polyester.
For most buyers, a one-colour screen print on a non-woven, cotton or jute bag is the sensible default: it costs least to set up and prints sharply. Each product page shows the decoration positions available, usually one, two or three, and the logo is sized to the print area of the bag you pick.
Ordering specialty bags
There is no minimum order, so a small team can order a dozen toiletry bags as easily as a conference can order a thousand shoppers. We send a free digital proof showing the colours, logo size and position, and nothing goes to production until you approve it. Stocked bags are decorated in house, and some orders can be ready the same day. Custom made bags take longer, usually one to three weeks by air after sample approval, or up to about six weeks by sea for bulky items such as luggage. Many products show quantity pricing on the product page, and the quote confirms the branded price.
Who buys specialty bags, and why?
- Events, expos and trade shows: a shoulder-length non-woven or nylon bag carries everything else from the venue, so the logo moves around the floor all day and out the door.
- Corporate gifts and onboarding: a toiletry bag or weekender in a new-starter pack sits in a home or a car boot for years, and kitting lets us pack it with the rest of the gifts.
- Clubs and community groups: sports and drawstring bags go to training and games every week for a season or more.
Buying for a conference? See conference bags as well.
If you tell us who the bag is for, how many you need and when, we can recommend the fabric and method. Use the instant enquiry form at the top of this page, or call 1300 247 766 for a quote on the spot.