How Trashed L.L.Bean Totes Became the It Bag of the Summer

Leon Leonwood Bean, the eponymous founder of Maine-based outdoor outfitter L.L.Bean, is best known as the inventor of hardy New England style staples like the Maine Hunting Shoe (a.k.a. the Bean Boot), the Field Coat, and the Chamois Shirt. He’s also, as it happens, the creator of one of the most in-demand accessories of summer 2025: the Boat and Tote tote bag. Priced at just $39.95 for the Medium model (a custom monogram will run you another $8), and still made in Maine, the Boat and Tote…