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Fun with reusable shopping bags

Email|Link|Comments (3) Posted by Devra First July 15, 2008 05:29 PM

Sheryl's post below links to a pattern for making your own reusable fabric shopping bags. I like the idea, but considering that for about six months my couch has been adorned with pillow forms draped in fabric I eventually intend to turn into pillow covers, it's not particularly realistic.

If you're also not likely to sew your own, here are some alternatives.

* Dogeared, a company known better for its charm necklaces, is making canvas bags now too. Some favorites from them:

* Japanese designer Shinzi Katoh makes all kinds of irresistible housewares, plus plenty of tote bags. These are coated in vinyl, very practical for rainy days. In case you can't read the type, the one on the left says: "I love orange juice. It's sweet and color is pretty. When I drink orange juice, My body is orange!" The one on the right says: "I love to take my dogs walking in the park. As I tend to be slow in doing things, I can't follow close behind. How do you like spend your holiday? If I have enough time, I would like take a stroll with my lovely dogs all day long." Hey, they don't have to make sense. They just have to be sturdy grocery carriers. You can find more bags adorned with charming Japanglish at the Shinzi Katoh website (in yen, but with more designs) or at Unica Home (in dollars).

* The FEED Bag saves plastic bags, and the purchase price feeds a child in school for one school year, under the auspices of the World Food Programme (and Lauren Bush). You can buy one from Amazon.

* Less cute but extremely practical is the Acme Workhorse. It weighs 1.5 oz., is made of rip-stop nylon, and folds up inside a teeny sack when you're not toting things in it. Get one at reusablebags.com.

* Along the same lines are Baggu bags, which come in a phenomenal range of colors. Get 'em here.

Have you started bringing your own bags to the grocery store? Have you purchased one for this purpose, or are you using old totes from conferences, NPR pledge drives, and the like? What's your favorite way to lug home groceries?

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3 comments so far...

Hi - reusing is suppose to be "conserving," not a fashion statement. I hope that we all do not get caught up in "collecting" all the different types of reusable bags. That would defeat the purpose, right?

I bought a variety of bags from greensak.com and they are purposeful! They work for groceries and retail shopping with the purpose of reducing plastic bags. I love that statement! Although - I do indulge in a few fashionable statements of my own!

Thanks!

Posted by Renee July 16, 08 04:11 PM

I love my roll-up bags from envirosax.com -- I always keep one or two handy in my purse, for anything from a drugstore stop to toting home a bottle of wine, and they are also a good way to bring my newspapers over to the the recycling bin at the T station (I don't own a car). Those reusable, green flat-bottom bags are good for groceries, but in case I forget them, I at least have one rolled up in my purse. And I do like that they come in fun graphics. :-)

Posted by leswes July 18, 08 04:18 PM

We really need to promote green item. whether it is Reusable Bag, Green printing.
This is the only way we can give our children a safer and greener world.

Posted by Eric Devis January 20, 09 07:44 AM