Buy Drawstring Bags – Textile Bags with a Drawstring Closure for Shoes, Laundry & Merchandise

Drawstring bags are the textile, reusable alternative to film bags. Two cords run through built-in eyelets; pulled tight, the bag closes at the top. Made from cotton, polyester, non-woven or jute – durable, washable, with the natural premium charm of fabric.

Available for shoes as a shoe-shipping solution and for textiles for laundry and fashion shipping.

Choose the material to suit the application: cotton for organic brands and washable, reusable use; polyester for sport and the swimming pool; non-woven for cost-effective promotional campaigns. Printable by screen printing or with embroidery.

Typical for shoe manufacturers, wedding favours, sports clubs and trade-fair promotion. Available from our German warehouse, including in standard quantities.

Popular drawstring bag variants

Shipping & delivery

We ship promptly from our German warehouse. Free shipping on orders over €200 net. For printed special sizes, the delivery time is arranged individually.

What are drawstring bags?

Drawstring bags – also known as sports bags, gym bags or shoe bags – are bags with a cord as a closure. The cord runs through a channel around the top edge of the bag. Pulling on both ends of the cord closes the bag, and it can also serve as a carrying strap.

The material varies: cotton, polyester, non-woven or blended fabric. Reusable packaging with high marketing potential thanks to its printability.

What are drawstring bags used for?

  • Shoe shipping: shoes as a gift pack with a shoe bag
  • Textiles: laundry, T-shirts, fashion shipping with added value
  • Sport: sports-item bundles, gym bags for children
  • Merchandising: concert merch, festival goodies, gifts
  • Organic & natural brands: a sustainable alternative to plastic
  • Gifts: Christmas, birthdays, weddings

Which drawstring bags do we stock?

Benefits of drawstring bags

  • Reusable packaging: a sustainable alternative to plastic bags.
  • High-quality feel: the textile look is elegant.
  • Carrying function: the cord doubles as a shoulder strap.
  • Printable: a large advertising area for your logo.
  • Breathable (depending on the material) – ideal for sports shoes.
  • Private & trade: standard quantities and bulk orders.
  • Fast shipping from our German warehouse.

Material properties of drawstring bags in detail

Drawstring bags are made from non-woven, fabric or film with a cord threaded through. The material and finish determine the look, handling and area of use — from shoe packaging to textile storage.

Polypropylene non-woven 70 g/m²

Tear-resistant PP non-woven in a breathable quality, soft against the skin. The classic application is shoe packaging in premium retail and textiles (T-shirts, jumpers) in mail order. Reusable as a storage bag.

Natural cotton

Bags made from 100% cotton in a natural-fibre quality, unbleached, OEKO-TEX-certifiable. A premium feel, printable with bio inks. For sustainability-focused brands and durable gift packaging.

LDPE film 60 microns — the film variant

A cost-effective plastic variant made from clear or coloured polyethylene film with a plastic cord threaded through. Suitable for lightweight single packaging in promotional marketing.

Kraft paper with a drawstring

A variant made from 80 g/m² kraft paper with a paper cord in the hem. Fully paper-based, recyclable in the paper stream. Popular for packaging gifts, dry products and organic brands.

Printing and finishing

All materials are printable — non-woven and cotton by screen or transfer printing, film and paper by flexographic printing. A logo print, full-surface printing or an embroidered finish are all possible.

Standard delivery form: individually packed or bundled in 50/100 pieces, depending on size and material.

Material comparison at a glance

VariantMaterialPropertyTypical application
Non-wovenPP non-woven 70 g/m²breathable, reusableshoes, textiles (premium retail)
Cotton100% natural cottonOEKO-TEX-certifiable, premiumorganic brands, durable gifts
FilmLDPE 60 micronscost-effectivepromotional single packaging
Paperkraft paper 80 g/m² + paper cordrecyclable in the paper streamgifts, dry products, organic

Bespoke customisation — material, sizes and brand printing

Drawstring bags are particularly well suited to bespoke brand printing and premium make-up.

Printing methods

Printing by screen, transfer or embroidery on non-woven and cotton. Film and paper variants are printed by flexographic printing with up to 4 colours. Full-surface printing across the entire front is possible.

Special sizes and special shapes

Format adjustments in width (80–500 mm) and height (100–700 mm). Cord colour optionally white, natural, black or coloured to match your brand identity. A double cord for more stable closures on request.

We will clarify the minimum order quantity and delivery time individually following your enquiry. (for non-woven/cotton), 10,000 pieces (for film/paper). Delivery time on request. Make an enquiry.

Sustainability — drawstring bags as reusable packaging

Drawstring bags are a particularly sustainable form of packaging, as they are typically used many times over — from a shipping bag to a storage bag, to a travel bag, to a laundry bag.

Cotton and non-woven — reusable

Bags made from cotton and PP non-woven have a service life of 50–100 uses. That replaces a correspondingly large number of single-use plastic bags. The environmental balance turns positive against single-use films after around 10 uses.

OEKO-TEX and organic certification

Cotton drawstring bags are available in OEKO-TEX Standard 100, GOTS (organic cotton) and Fairtrade quality — important for sustainability-focused brands in the premium segment.

Recyclability of the film variants

LDPE film drawstring bags are recyclable as a single material in the PE stream. Kraft paper variants are recovered in the paper recycling stream.

PPWR compliance

All our drawstring bags comply with the EU Packaging Regulation: either through single-material recycling or through demonstrable reuse with a markedly better environmental balance than single-use alternatives.

Frequently asked questions about drawstring bags

What is a drawstring bag?

A textile, reusable bag with a drawstring closure – two cords are pulled tight and close the bag at the top. Synonyms: fabric bag with a cord, sports bag, gym bag.

What material is it made from?

Cotton (natural, washable), polyester (economical, tear-resistant), non-woven fabric (cost-effective), jute (rustic). Choose the material to suit the application.

Which sizes are common?

Small (20×25 cm for small shoes, jewellery), medium (25×35 cm for laundry, fashion shipping), large (35×45 cm for sport, merch). Special sizes on request.

Washable?

Cotton: yes, up to 60 °C. Polyester: yes, at 40 °C. Non-woven is not washable. For reusable, washable applications, choose cotton.

Suitable for shoes?

Yes → drawstring bags for shoes. Shoe manufacturers often package trainers and premium shoes in fabric bags instead of cardboard boxes.

For laundry and fashion?

Yes → drawstring bags for textiles. Laundry transport, premium fashion shipping, returns bags.

Can they be printed with a logo?

Yes – screen printing (classic), transfer printing (multi-colour), embroidery (premium look). Embroidery is especially high-quality for fashion brands and sports clubs.

Is there a sustainable variant?

Cotton is bio-based and sustainable. Organic cotton (GOTS certificate) on request. For especially sustainable brands, we recommend organic cotton.

Intended for reusable use?

Yes – that is the main use case. Unlike film bags, fabric bags are designed for 50–100+ uses. A very environmentally friendly packaging strategy.

For wedding favours?

Very popular – embroidered with the wedding initials and date. Fabric charm + personalisation = a premium favour. The small format is for almonds, pralines and love letters.

Which variant for a sports club?

Polyester (water-repellent, quick-drying) for the swimming pool and sports equipment. Printed with the club logo for merchandise sales.

For a promotional campaign at trade fairs?

Non-woven or an economical polyester variant with a promotional print. Just a few cents per piece, but days of advertising around town.

What is the minimum order quantity?

Standard drawstring bags without printing: no minimum order. With printing, a higher minimum order applies – we calculate this individually.

Recyclable?

Cotton and jute: bio-based, compostable. Polyester: technically recyclable in textile recovery. Non-woven (PP): recyclable as a single material.