Tote was founded by artist and painter Diane Awdeh, whose work is driven by emotion, resilience, and the desire to transform life experiences into art.

Diane’s paintings are deeply personal, born from moments of stillness, transition, and strength. Working in abstraction and expressive color, she creates pieces that invite interpretation while holding space for emotion and individuality.

Rather than separating art from daily life, Diane chose to extend her paintings beyond the canvas. Tote was created as a way to make art wearable and accessible, allowing each piece to carry meaning, boldness, and originality into the world.

Every Tote design begins as an original painting, an intuitive act, transformed into bags and wearable art pieces, carrying the stories they represent.