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Continue ShoppingWhat is a Layflat Bag?
Layflat Bags Explained: The Patent-Protected Format Going Viral
A layflat bag is a bag that opens completely flat — like a circle or rectangle — giving you full visibility and access to everything inside at once. When you're done, it closes into a compact bag via a drawstring. Lay-n-Go invented and patented the layflat-to-drawstring format in 2010 and holds 7 US utility patents on the mechanism.
The longer answer
Most bags have one thing in common: to get something out, you have to reach in. You dig, you shuffle, you pull things out to find what's underneath. It's the fundamental design flaw of every purse, tote, backpack, and cosmetic bag ever made.
A layflat bag solves this at the root. Instead of opening at the top like a mouth, it opens by lying completely flat — spreading out into a full surface. Everything inside is immediately visible. Everything is immediately reachable. There's no digging because there's no bottom to dig through.
When you're done, you pull the drawstring that runs around the perimeter of the bag. The edges gather inward, the contents bundle together, and the whole thing cinches closed into a neat, portable bag.
It's a simple idea. It took 7 patents to protect it properly.
Who invented the layflat bag?
Amy and Adam Fazackerley, co-founders of Lay-n-Go, developed the layflat-to-drawstring mechanism in 2010. The original use case was a Lego play mat — a surface kids could build on that would gather all the bricks when playtime was over.
The mechanism turned out to work for almost everything. Lay-n-Go now makes layflat bags for travel makeup, toy storage, first responder gear, pet grooming, and everyday organization. The core patent-protected design is the same across all of them.
How is it different from a regular drawstring bag?
A regular drawstring bag is a pouch with a string at the top. You open it by pulling the string, reach in, and hope what you need is near the surface.
A layflat drawstring bag opens by lying flat first — fully open, fully accessible — and then closes via the drawstring. The sequence is the key difference: open flat, use, close. Not open narrow, dig, close.
The layflat format also means the bag holds its shape when open. It doesn't collapse or bunch. It stays spread out so you can see and use the full surface.
What is a layflat bag used for?
The layflat format turns out to be useful anywhere you need fast, organized access to a collection of items:
Travel makeup — The Lay-n-Go COSMO cosmetic bag lays flat on a hotel bathroom counter, giving you access to your entire kit without unpacking. Available in 16, 20, and 22 inch sizes, all under $40.
Toy storage — The Lay-n-Go play mat lays flat as a play surface and closes in seconds. No scooping required. Available in Lite, Lifestyle, and Large sizes.
First responder gear — The Lay-n-Go DEFENDER is used by EMTs, law enforcement, and military personnel who need immediate access to organized equipment.
Pet grooming — Lay-n-Go mats work as grooming surfaces that gather fur and supplies when done.
Craft and hobby supplies — Beads, paints, sewing notions, fishing tackle — anything small that needs to be spread out to work with and gathered up to store.
Why are layflat bags going viral?
The format photographs and videos extremely well. Watching a pile of Legos or a full makeup collection disappear into a bag in one pull is genuinely satisfying — the kind of before-and-after that performs on TikTok and Instagram.
Beyond the visual appeal, the product solves a real problem that every person with a collection of small items has experienced. It doesn't require behavior change or a new organizational system. You just use it where you already play or get ready, and cleanup takes seconds.
Are there knockoffs?
Yes. Because the format is visually distinctive and widely shared on social media, knockoffs appear regularly. None of them are protected by the same patents as Lay-n-Go, and most do not open as flat or cinch as cleanly as the original.
Lay-n-Go holds 7 US utility patents on the layflat-to-drawstring mechanism. The patent numbers are listed at layngo.com/pages/lay-n-go-patents.
FAQ
Who makes the original layflat drawstring bag? Lay-n-Go, founded in 2010 by Amy and Adam Fazackerley. They hold 7 US utility patents on the design.
Is the layflat bag patented? Yes. Lay-n-Go holds 7 US utility patents on the layflat-to-drawstring mechanism.
What sizes do layflat bags come in? Lay-n-Go makes layflat bags in multiple sizes depending on the product line. The COSMO cosmetic bag comes in 16, 20, and 22 inches. Play mats come in Lite, Lifestyle, and Large.
Where can I buy a layflat bag? At layngo.com and on Amazon.
How do you clean a layflat bag? All Lay-n-Go products are machine washable — cold water, gentle cycle, hang dry.
Sources
Author: Amy Fazackerley, Lay-n-Go Co-Founder. Updated May 2026.