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I need someone to explain this phenomenon to me. Please.
Designer Anya Hindmarch made this super chic (and not so green) $15.00 purse that had “I’m Not a Plastic Bag” emblazoned across it in cute brown script. A couple celebrities were seen sporting it, Live Earth happened, then BOOM! This bag was bigger than Tickle-Me-Elmo at Christmas in the late 1990s.
And I don’t get it. There’s tons of hip eco-friendly bags out there. They all make a similar statement: “I’m a hip, green, socially conscious young woman!” but none have taken off the way this bag has. It sells out in mere minutes wherever it premieres. There is pushing and shoving. Sometimes, there are even riots.
This is my beef: These bags aren’t really designed to replace plastic grocery bags. Nor are they eco-conscious in their design. According to Treehugger,
The Evening Standard revealed that the so-called green carriers were made in China, using cheap labour. And the bag was neither organic nor fair trade. Never mind the air miles.
There are tons of non-plastic grocery bag options out there. I’ve been collecting my dad’s old conference totes for years, and have quite a nice collection built up. They may not be pretty (Economic Development & Natural Resources: Building Better Relations ‘97, anyone?), but they get the job done.
However, if this bag craze means that more fashion-conscious women out there will become more eco-conscious, then that’s a good thing. A very good thing.
Still really, really want one? You’ll probably have better luck entering the Ecorazzi contest than scoring one at a premiere near you.
I personally prefer the “I’m not a smug twat” version from Marissa V, but I’m a pompous green ass.
And remember, it may be chic, but it ain’t that green.
Neither was I impressed by it. Noticed how I’ve never featured it at my bargain blog? No offense to the bandwagon it created but it really irks me when a certain product all of a sudden gets so much attention because a celebrity was holding or wearing it. I blame that idiot Sienna Miller phenomenon…LOL. I better shut my mouth before I get in so much trouble. Although it’s probably too late now. Hahaha.
yeah! besides, it’s NOT a bargain if it was supposed to be a grocery bag….lol
at first i was ‘okay, it’s promoting a good cause, I can handle that’ until I found out the bag wasn’t even GREEN. that really made me mad grrrr….
i also HATE when celebrities jump on causes then act like experts. I’m all for them supporting stuff, but i don’t need them acting like they know better than me…..but this isn’t the blog for that
[...] out her post now to learn more about this and find out what Erin thinks is a great alternative to the bag. Anya [...]