HERO Custom Calico Tote Bags - Custom or Plain - Recycled Cotton
per unit
Tax included
Product Description
Give your brand or event the moment it deserves. The Hero Calico Tote is sustainable, customisable and super duper cute.
Thick 120gsm weave, built to be reused.
Place your logo or artwork on the bag.
Ethically handmade and printed with water-based inks.
Equally at home as e-commerce inner packaging, a shopping tote, gift bag, or event giftbag, the Hero Calico Tote is the kind of packaging customers actually keep. Tuck one inside a Heropack mailer, pair it with custom tissue paper, or let it stand on its own as a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic. Made from 100% recycled cotton and printed & dispatched from our Sydney warehouse, Australia-wide and internationally.
"The crew at Hero Packaging couldn't be nicer or more efficient. The sample bag was delivered promptly and is great quality — which means we'll be ordering 200 more!"
Specifications
| Material | 100% recycled cotton, unbleached natural calico |
| Weight | 120gsm - thick and durable |
| Size | 38cm × 42cm (W × H) |
| Handle | 84cm edge-to-edge, 30cm top-to-bottom (new longer handle) |
| Colour | Natural unbleached calico |
| Finish | Handmade. Minor variations are part of the charm |
| Minimum order | 25 bags, or a single printed sample |
| Printing | Colour printing, one side standard, both sides on request. Note: Colours may turn out softer than on screen |
| Care (plain) | We don't recommend washing the bags. |
| Care (printed) | Spot clean only, inks are not washable |
| Shipping from | Sydney, Australia, delivering Australia-wide and internationally |
Pricing at a glance
Per-bag pricing becomes more favourable as your order scales. All prices in AUD, tax included.
Savings shown are on custom-printed bags versus the 25-pack per-unit price. Prefer to test first? A single printed sample is $15, or a plain sample is $2.50.
"My order arrived very quickly and the quality is wonderful. I used them for Cyanotype printing and they turned out so well. I will be back!"
How custom printing works
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01
Place your order
Choose your quantity, select "YES - add my logo", and upload your artwork at checkout. No artwork yet? Email us after ordering at hello@heropackaging.com.au.
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02
Share your placement
Use our Canva placement template to show us exactly where to position your artwork on the bag.
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03
Receive your PDF proof (if you need one)
We email your digital proof within 2–3 business days for sign-off. Changes? Reply with notes!
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04
Order a printed sample (optional)
Want to hold the real thing before your bulk run? Add a single printed sample unit to your order. Dispatched within 2–3 business days of approval.
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05
We print and ship
Your full order is printed to spec at our Sydney facility and dispatched to your door. See exact dispatch times below.
"Super fast turnaround and easy to work with. The printing came out beautifully on the recycled calico — exactly what we wanted for our brand."
Printing & dispatch times
Times below begin after your PDF proof is approved. Allow an additional 2–3 business days to receive your proof.
| Order quantity | Print & dispatch |
|---|---|
| 1 printed sample | 2–3 business days |
| 25–100 bags | 3–4 business days |
| 250–500 bags | 5–6 business days |
| 1,000+ bags | 7–10 business days |
Event on the horizon? We may be able to prioritise your order. Contact the team or call (02) 8006 1283.
Before you order custom printing
- We can't print in white. Our eco-friendly inks don't support white. White backgrounds will drop out (showing natural calico); white logos and text will be converted to black.
- Colours may look softer than on-screen. Recycled cotton absorbs ink differently than paper — blacks can appear as deep grey, and saturated tones a touch more muted. If exact colour matching is critical, order a printed sample first.
- Double-sided printing is available on request. Email us at hello@heropackaging.com.au for a quote before ordering.
- Printed bags are not machine washable. Gentle hand-washing may be possible but test first — the inks are not waterproof.
- Handmade means no two are identical. Expect slight variations in measurements and fabric tone between batches. It's part of what makes them special.
Questions about your order? We're here to help.
Our team replies fast on business days.
Custom Tote Bag FAQ
What’s the minimum order for custom printing?
Just 25 bags which is one of the lowest minimum order quantities in Australia. You can also order a single printed sample unit before committing to a bulk run. If you want 5 or 10, just let us know and we can do that for you.
Can I order a printed sample before my full order?
Yes. Choose “1 – SAMPLE UNIT” as your quantity with “YES - ADD MY LOGO.” We’ll print one bag with your artwork so you can see it in hand before committing. This is $15.
What file format should I upload for my artwork?
We recommend high-resolution PDF, AI, EPS, or SVG for vector logos, or PNG/JPG at 300dpi or higher. Vector files always produce the cleanest print result.
Can you print on both sides of the bag?
Yes - double-sided printing is available on request. Please email hello@heropackaging.com.au for a quote before placing your order.
Will my brand colours match exactly?
We do our best to match, but recycled cotton absorbs ink differently than paper, so prints can look slightly softer than on-screen. If precise colour matching matters for your brand, we strongly recommend ordering a printed sample first.
Can I print my design in white?
Not currently. Our eco-friendly inks don’t support white printing. White backgrounds in your artwork will drop out, appearing as natural calico, and white logos or text will be converted to black automatically.
How long until I receive my PDF proof (if I want one)?
Allow 2–3 business days from your order for the digital proof. Changes are welcome before final approval.
Please note:
- The more changes you make, the longer it will take for production to begin
- One change is included. Any further changes incur a cost of $20 per change
- If you choose to get a refund after the approval, you will be refunded the order amount minus $20
Are these bags washable?
Plain, unprinted bags can be gently hand-washed in cold water to prevent shrinkage. Printed bags should not be washed, as our eco-friendly inks aren’t waterproof and colours may run.
How sustainable are these bags, really?
Very. They’re made from 100% recycled cotton, handmade by ethical manufacturing partners, and printed by Hero Packaging, a proudly certified B-Corporation based in Sydney, Australia. Designed to be reused for years, they replace dozens of single-use plastic alternatives over their lifespan.
Do you ship outside Australia?
Yes. We ship Australia-wide and internationally to New Zealand, Canada, the USA, the UK and other countries. International standard delivery is typically 5–20 days, while express is 3–7 days. Import duties may apply in the destination country.
What if my artwork upload fails at checkout?
No worries, place your order and leave a note at checkout, then email your artwork and placement template to hello@heropackaging.com.au. We’ll match it to your order and move straight to proofing.
Can you help me if I don’t have print-ready artwork yet?
Yes. If your artwork isn’t quite ready, you can still place your order and send through what you have. Our team can review it and let you know if anything needs to be adjusted before proofing.
If you need design help, we can also help with this. Please email us for a quote.
Where on the tote bag can my logo be placed?
Your logo can usually be placed on the front of the bag in a standard print area. If you have a specific layout or placement in mind, you can use our placement template to show exactly how you want it to appear.
Do you do block colours?
While we can do that, we typically recommend no big block colours. This is to ensure the best printing quality.
Are these tote bags suitable for events and conferences?
Yes. They’re a great option for conferences, welcome bags, product launches, PR gifting, retail events and branded activations. They’re especially popular because people actually keep and reuse them after the event.
Can I use these as product packaging for customer orders?
Absolutely. Many brands use calico tote bags as premium inner packaging or as part of a gift-with-purchase experience. They’re a simple way to make an order feel more elevated and memorable.
Do you offer plain tote bags as well as custom printed ones?
Yes. If you don’t need printing, plain calico tote bags are also available. They’re ideal if you want a simple reusable bag or plan to customise them yourself.
Can I reorder the same design again later?
Yes. If you come back for another order using the same artwork, the reorder process is much easier. Just let us know it’s a repeat order and we can work from your previous design setup if nothing has changed.
What types of businesses use custom calico tote bags?
They’re popular with fashion brands, retailers, event agencies, PR teams, skincare and wellness brands, bookstores, florists, gift businesses and corporate teams looking for practical branded merchandise.
How much weight can the tote bag carry?
These tote bags can easily carry up to 5kgs.
Can I order these for a tight deadline?
Absolutely! If you have a a tight deadline, we can get these done for you. There is a rush order fee of approximately 15-40% depending on how quickly you need them.
REVIEWS
Shipping & Returns
Everything you need to know about dispatch, delivery, and our returns process.
General Shipping Information
Same-day dispatch for orders placed before 12pm AEST/AEDT on business days. All other orders ship the next business day. Holiday trading hours may differ — check our website for the latest.
Australia Post is currently delivering as normal. Choose Express Post at checkout if you need products quickly. Sydney customers also have same-day delivery options at checkout.
Some delivery delays may apply. Please allow extra time and check your tracking link before contacting us. Keep buffer stock on hand to avoid running out.
In-Stock (Ready to Ship) Orders
Orders placed before 12pm AEDT on a business day are dispatched same day. You'll receive a shipping confirmation with tracking details as soon as your order leaves our warehouse.
Our order system is highly automated — we cannot amend or change orders once placed under any circumstances. If you need to return mailers, please see our returns information below.
Unforeseen events such as natural disasters may impact dispatch times. Check our website for the most up-to-date information.
Custom Printed Orders
All custom orders begin with a PDF proof — allow 2–3 business days. Printing only starts after you approve the proof. All timings below are from proof approval.
* 300+ unit orders may be split across 2–3 deliveries. We'll always contact you when this applies.
| Print type | Quantity | Dispatch time |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Logo PrintingSample | Sample | 2–3 days |
| Full-Colour PrintingSample | Sample | 3–7 days |
| Basic Logo PrintingBulk orders | 25–100 units | 3–4 days |
| 250–500 units | 5–6 days | |
| 1,000+ units | 7–10 days | |
| Full-Colour PrintingBulk orders | 25–300 units | 7–10 days |
| 300+ units | Up to 20 days* |
* 300+ units may be split across 2–3 deliveries. Allow up to 20 business days for single-shipment 300+ orders.
| Order type | Quantity | Dispatch time |
|---|---|---|
| Printed Sample | Sample | 2–3 days |
| Bulk Printed Orders | 25–100 units | 3–4 days |
| 250–500 units | 5–6 days | |
| 1,000+ units | 7–10 days |
Australian Orders
Allow 2–8 business days after your order has been dispatched.
Allow 1–3 business days after dispatch. Select at checkout.
Select warehouse pick-up or same-day delivery options directly at checkout.
Unforeseen events may impact delivery times. Always check our website for the latest.
International Orders
Allow 5–20 days depending on your country. Estimated times display in checkout once your address is entered.
Allow 3–7 days to New Zealand, Canada, USA, UK, and other supported countries.
Orders shipped outside Australia are classified as imports in the destination country. You are responsible for paying any applicable import duties and taxes to clear customs.
The shipping carrier will contact you using your order details. If duties are not paid, the shipment will be diverted to commercial composting and cannot be returned. No refunds apply in these cases.
Returns Information
If you've purchased the wrong size or no longer need your mailers, you may be able to return them for store credit within 14 days of purchase. No change-of-mind returns are accepted after this period due to the shelf life of our mailers.
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1Contact us within 14 days of purchase. No returns accepted after this period under any circumstances.
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2Returns are subject to handling and restocking fees. The original shipping cost is also deducted from any store credit.
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3For custom orders not yet printed, a sampling/setup fee of $15–$50 will also be deducted from the credit.
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4Custom orders that have already been printed cannot be returned under any circumstances.
Sometimes things don't go to plan — and we'll always make it right. Resolutions can include product replacements, store credits, or refunds.
If you have a product issue, please contact us for instructions. We'll generally ask for photos or a short video of the issue to provide the fastest possible resolution.
Pre-Order Information
When a product is out of stock it may move to a pre-order listing. This will be clearly noted on the product page and in your order confirmation.
If you order a pre-order item alongside in-stock items, your entire order is held until pre-order stock is available. We cannot partially ship orders.
Tip: Place pre-order and in-stock items in separate orders to avoid delays.
You'll receive a shipping tracking notification as soon as your pre-order is dispatched. If you have questions, message us for assistance.
