Eco Bags - the New Fashion Staple?
We see signs "Please Bring Your Own Bag" everywhere now; in grocery stores and some retail shops are even giving us free reusable bags to use for future buys. Eco bags came into existence decades ago but along with the environmentally friendly frenzy, eco bags were brought back in variety of designs to attract people into a good cause.
Marks & Spencer has their very own environmental campaign called Plan A, which is a 5 year plan to reduce waste, extend sustainable sourcing, to be carbon neutral, ethical trading and help customers lead a healthier lifestyle. In conjunction with this, they have come up with a range of organic cotton shopping bags designed by famed fashion illustrator David Downtown. The bags feature 2 fashion icons; Twiggy and supermodel Lily Cole. Retail price is at RM 25
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Common Totes, a diverse range of eco friendly bags that has a different direction to Marks & Spencer. The brand runs on the basis of community by inviting the public to submit their design to be made into a bag. Each winning design is voted by the community and receives $200 in prize. Common Totes bags are selling at $16.
In The Forest designed by Ula Phelep (France)
Close Relationship designed by Anwar Rafiee (Singapore)
Serengeti designed by Julia Garcia (USA)
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Envirosax, a versatile eco brand based in Australia, Envirosax has a strong philosophy of environmental sustainability for tomorrow's generation. Their products are especially lightweight, waterproof, durable and portable. It has recently reached Malaysia, guaranteeing that each Envirosax bag can hold up to 20kg of weight; which is equivalent of 2 plastic bags full of goods. Established since 2004, the range of eco bag collection is diverse. Envirosax is available locally in department stores Isetan, Parksons, Jusco, chain store Living Quarters and retail specialist store HOMING. Retail price is at RM 24.90 each.
The Candy Series, The Flora Series, The Kids Series
The Botanica Series, The Retro Series, The Mikado Series
The La Boheme Series, The Monochromatic Series, The Oxford Series
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If you'd like to buy an eco bag with the intention of saving the environment and helping charity, Gin & Jacqie is your local go to brand. From laptop to travel bags, practicality is the foundation of the brand. Gin & Jacqie was started by an avid traveller Jacqueline Ng who understands the need for practicality, quality, design and functionality of a bag that can be carried at any occasion. Newest addition to Gin & Jacqie is the Love + Faith Bag designed by Zuhaili Akmal Ismail for the Breast Cancer Awareness foundation; 100% profit proceedings go to charity. Retail price is at RM18.
When talking about eco bags, we must not forget BAGGU. A brand consisting of a team of designers and entrepreneurs that not only believes in creative designs and quality, but most importantly affordability. The range of BAGGU bags always cheer you up with its colours. From bright orange, pink, blue to red, everyone should have a Baggu with a hue of their choice. Price for a BAGGU is $4.00 with a flat rate shipping cost.
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In July 2009, the people of Hong Kong started a campaign called Plastic Bag Levy Scheme. Shoppers who do not bring their own bags are charged $6 cents. With this rule in place, CLOT, a well known fashion brand based in HK came up with their own line of eco bags. A piece of CLOT's eco bag and environmental shirt are selling in a package for RM349, available in Juice stores located in Bangsar, KL.
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Tesco Malaysia combines accurate measure of beautiful design and affordability in their newest product range - an eco bags designed by Rizalman Ibrahim in support of the Malaysian Nature Society's GREENaid programme. What separates eco bag from the rest - apart from it being locally made by a hypermarket, is that it is made out of recycled plastic bottles. The Malaysian Nature Society receives RM 0.50 cents for every eco bag sold. Retail price is selling at RM 4.99 available in all 31 Tesco stores around Malaysia.
The conservation of environment have become today's worry, brands have gone as far to design their eco bags to attract customer appeal. I say, this is a noble initiative while being fashionable at that but still we ask you not to go crazy on loading on the eco bags as well. Too much of even a good thing/idea can have it's drawbacks too, read here to learn more about choosing the right type of eco-bags!
Have you got your own eco bag? what's your favourite eco bag design?
Related articles: Spot PETA Girls in Lettuce Outfits (KL), CLOT Green Program (HK & KL), The Pull and Bear Forest, The Pull and Bear World Project, The No Plastic Bag Bazaar
Image credits: JUICE online, Marks & Spencer, BAGGU, gin & Jacqie, Envirosax, Common Totes.
