Polène Tote Bags: Cyme Tote, Cyme and the Best Big Polène Bags

Polène makes its tote bags in sculpted leather and woven leather pearls: the Cyme Tote and Cyme Tote Nano, the folded Cyme, the structured Numéro Sept, the net-style Solé, the large Nomad Solé shopper and the Shuldo, a slouchy hobo that works as a big everyday carry. The Cyme and the Shuldo are the two to choose for a full day’s load, while the Cyme Tote Nano and Numéro Sept are smaller hand bags for lighter days.

Polène is the Paris house founded in 2016 by Antoine, Mathieu and Elsa Mothay, and most of these totes are made by leather artisans in Ubrique, Spain. The exception is the Nomad Solé, which the brand makes in Madagascar. This guide sets out what each tote holds, which takes an A4 notebook, which can take a laptop, and how they change from work to weekend. You can browse the whole shape in our designer tote bags category.

The Polène tote line at a glance

Polène totes split into three groups. The sculpted leather totes (Cyme, Cyme Tote, Cyme Tote Nano) take their shape from folds and curves. The structured hand bag (Numéro Sept) has a firm body and a gold-plated clasp. The woven bags (Solé, Nomad Solé) use pebble-like pearls made in France from upcycled leather offcuts, strung on waxed cotton cords. The Shuldo sits apart: a large, soft shoulder bag that many people use the way they would use a tote.

Cyme Tote and Cyme Tote Nano

The Cyme Tote is a sculptural tote of waves and rounded edges that takes two shapes. Open it out and it becomes a basket, its sides open and its straps on the outside. Tuck the sides in and the straps cross on the inside, closing it into a flower. That switch is useful in practice: open for an armful of shopping, closed for a dinner where you want the contents hidden. The Cyme Tote in Taupe Bag is the shade we would pick for daily use, and the Cyme Tote in Black Cherry Bag brings colour without shouting.

The Cyme Tote Nano is the small version at 25.5 x 20 x 9 cm and 296 g. Its 9.6 cm handle is made for the hand and the crook of the elbow, and a shoulder strap comes with it. It holds a phone, a cardholder, keys and sunglasses, with an interior pocket and a magnetic closure. The Cyme Tote Nano in Camel Bag and the Cyme Tote Nano in Terracotta Bag are the warm shades; the Cyme Tote Nano Edition Textured Black Bag is the evening option. If small is your priority, see Polène mini bags.

The Cyme: the big Polène tote

When people search for a big Polène bag, the Cyme is usually the answer. It measures 32 x 38 x 17 cm, weighs 900 g, and comes with two handle lengths, 40 cm for the hand and 60 cm for the shoulder. A removable interior pocket of 22.5 x 13 cm keeps small things together, and the lining is velvet microfibre. The textured Italian calf hides scuffs well.

An A4 notebook goes in upright with room to spare, alongside a water bottle, a wallet and a scarf. A slim 13-inch laptop fits on the measurements, though the folded sides make it snug, so we use a sleeve and keep the charger elsewhere. The Cyme in Black Bag is the work classic, the Cyme in Camel Bag suits a camel coat, and the Cyme in Sand Bag is the lighter summer choice. Our Polène Cyme guide covers the Cyme and Cyme Mini in more depth.

Numéro Sept, the structured hand bag

The Numéro Sept is the most formal bag here. It is cut from textured Italian calf with a suede interior and a gold-plated stainless steel clasp, measures 23 x 21 x 12 cm and weighs 730 g. A shoulder strap of 87 cm lets you wear it across the body, on the shoulder and in the hand. It takes a wallet, phone, keys and a compact umbrella thanks to the 12 cm depth, but not a notebook.

The Numéro Sept in Taupe Bag is the neutral, and the Numéro Sept in Burgundy Bag is a deep red that looks sharp with grey tailoring.

Solé and Nomad Solé, the woven shoppers

The Solé is a net-style bag of leather pearls with a smooth calf base and handle. It measures 26.5 x 15.5 x 7 cm, rises to 47 cm with its handles, and comes with a removable pouch that snaps in place and closes with a leather-covered magnet. Because the body is open weave, the pouch is where your phone and cards live. The Solé in Tan Bag looks right on a summer terrace, and the Solé in Black Bag works in town.

The Nomad Solé is the large woven shopper, made in Madagascar with hand-woven handles, at 37 x 35 x 3 cm and 1102 g. It is flat when empty and opens out as you fill it, taking an A4 notebook, a beach towel and a book. The Nomad Solé in Porcelain Bag is pale and summery, and the Nomad Solé in Ebony Tinted Bag is the darker version for city use.

The Shuldo as a big carry

Strictly the Shuldo is a shoulder bag, but at 49 x 56 x 10 cm it holds more than any tote above. It is made from textured Spanish calf with an Italian suede lining and a zipped interior pocket, and it weighs 980 g. There is no strap; a cut-out handle sits over the shoulder and the leather wraps around the body. A 13-inch laptop goes in easily on its width, with a notebook, a cardigan and lunch beside it. The Shuldo in Black Bag is the obvious office pick, and the Shuldo in Mist Bag is a soft grey for weekends. More on how it wears is in our Polène shoulder bags guide.

Work tote versus weekend tote

For the office, the questions are simple: does it take a laptop, does it stand up, does it close. The Shuldo takes a laptop. The Cyme takes a notebook and a slim laptop in a sleeve, and closes into its flower shape. We go deeper on commuting in our Polène work bag guide, and our designer work totes round-up compares Polène with other houses on laptop space.

For weekends, weight matters more than capacity. The Cyme Tote Nano at 296 g and the Solé are the light picks, and the Nomad Solé is the bag for market runs and the beach. The Cyme Tote in Linden Bag is a green that suits weekend denim. If you want to see how these shapes compare with folded bags from other designers, read our guide to origami and geometric bags. For a full verdict on the house, our Polène review covers build and wear, and the Polène bag sizes guide lists every model.

Polène tote bags around the world

United States

New York commuters lean towards the Shuldo and the Cyme for their capacity. The brand lists boutiques in New York on Broadway and in SoHo, and has leased a space on Oak Street in Chicago.

United Kingdom

The British weather favours a tote that closes: the Cyme in its flower shape keeps rain out better than an open basket. The brand lists a boutique in London.

France

In Paris, the brand lists boutiques on Rue de Richelieu and the Champs-Élysées. The Solé appears on summer weekends; the Cyme is a year-round city bag.

Germany and Europe

The brand lists boutiques in Hamburg on Neuer Wall, Milan on Via Manzoni and in Copenhagen. Cyclists in Copenhagen tend to choose a shoulder carry like the Shuldo over a hand-held tote.

Japan

The brand’s first Asian boutique opened in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, in 2023. Smaller totes like the Cyme Tote Nano suit crowded trains and humid summers.

Australia and Canada

Australia’s summer runs from December, the season for the Solé and Nomad Solé. In Canada, a large tote that carries gloves, a hat and a laptop through winter makes the Shuldo a practical buy.

Polène tote bags: common questions

What is the biggest Polène tote bag?

The Polène Shuldo is the largest at 49 x 56 x 10 cm, though it is a shoulder bag. Among the true totes, the Polène Cyme at 32 x 38 x 17 cm is the large everyday choice.

Does a laptop fit in a Polène bag?

A 13-inch laptop fits easily in the Polène Shuldo. A slim 13-inch laptop also fits the Polène Cyme on its measurements, but the folded sides make it snug.

What is the difference between the Cyme Tote and the Cyme?

The Polène Cyme Tote is a tote that changes between an open basket and a closed flower shape. The Polène Cyme is a folded bag with two handle lengths and a removable interior pocket.

How big is the Polène Cyme Tote Nano?

The Polène Cyme Tote Nano measures 25.5 x 20 x 9 cm and weighs 296 g. It has a 9.6 cm handle, a shoulder strap, an interior pocket and a magnetic closure.

Where is the Polène Nomad Solé made?

The Polène Nomad Solé is made in Madagascar, with leather pearls made in France from upcycled leather offcuts. Most other Polène bags are made in Ubrique, Spain.

How do you wear the Polène Numéro Sept?

The Polène Numéro Sept has an adjustable 87 cm shoulder strap, so it is worn across the body and on the shoulder, and it can also be carried in the hand.