It's random, but it's only as random as the way the fabric were folded & cut. My dad is a pattern maker, so I've seen how they make pattern and cut fabric (for cloth, bags, etc). After the pattern is made, the fabric is rolled out and folded to make multiple layers of fabric (like more than 12" thick of layered fabric). Then the pattern is lay on top of the fabric, and the fabric is cut with a saw-looking thing. So if the fabric is folded in a way where the print is aligned on some of the layer, then you end up with bag with same print placement. I doubt that two bags will be 100% identical.