Circus Maximus: After Hours – Pajama Party (1978) | Zippered Canvas Tote

Circus Maximus 1978 | Hollywood Disco Zippered Canvas Tote

This zippered canvas tote bag is crafted from 100% 12 oz heavy cotton canvas, designed for everyday use with a spacious interior and secure closure. The design features a historically inspired graphic referencing Circus Maximus, evoking the visual language of late-1970s Los Angeles nightlife culture.

At the center of the composition is a stylized elephant motif—bold, geometric, and theatrical—mirroring the spectacle-driven identity of disco-era venues. The circular badge design recalls nightclub logos and event flyers of the time. On the side zipper panel, a secondary “Pajama Party” graphic references themed nightlife events—playful, intimate, and iconic to disco culture—adding a layered storytelling element to the piece.

Designed for modern life, this tote transitions seamlessly from market runs to beach days, travel, or daily carry. Its structure and durability make it a reliable companion, while its visual identity makes it unmistakably expressive. Canvas totes that carry history, character, and everyday function.

This piece speaks to collectors of LGBTQ history, nightlife culture, and vintage design. It’s a meaningful gift for those drawn to untold stories—where art, identity, and community intersect through objects made for everyday life.

DESIGN NOTE

This design is a historically inspired artwork, drawing from 1970s disco-era visual culture. The bold graphic composition, subdued color palette, and geometric detailing reflect the aesthetics of archival nightclub branding. The inclusion of the pajama party motif on the zipper panel reinforces the layered storytelling approach.

PRODUCT FEATURES

• 100% 12 oz heavy cotton canvas 
• Spacious 19 L main compartment with full zipper closure 
• Front external zip pocket: 9½" W x 9" H 
• 24½" self-fabric handles with 8½" drop 
• Dimensions: 18" W x 14" H x 4½" D 
• Structured base for easy packing 
• Durable and reusable 

CARE

• Spot clean recommended 
• Do not machine wash heavily 
• Air dry only 

HISTORICAL CONTEXT 

The design references the spirit of Circus Disco, one of Los Angeles’ most influential LGBTQ nightlife venues, founded in the mid-1970s. It was created as an inclusive alternative to discriminatory clubs, becoming a sanctuary particularly for Latino LGBTQ communities. 

Circus Disco was more than a nightclub—it was a cultural and political space where community organizing, fundraising, and identity formation took place. 

Themed nights—like costume events and pajama parties—were central to disco culture, offering moments of freedom, expression, and intimacy in a time when such spaces were rare.

This tote channels that energy: joy, resistance, performance, and belonging

EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House, flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY

Product information: Q-Tees Q1300, 2-year warranty in the EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC

Care instructions: Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F), *recommended to place a small amount of soap before placing in the washing machine