Shopping Dec 17, 2007 @ 10:00am

Do You Care About Your Shopping Bag?

by Faran Krentcil

scoop bag.jpg The true test of a New York transplant is how she carries her lunch:

The newer girls haul their leftover pasta in small shopping bags from Barneys or Tiffany that they carefully save for subway rides.

Once you’ve been here a few years, you give up and start hauling yesterday’s Dim Sum in a plastic sack from Duane Reade. Eventually, of course, you surrender altogether and walk to Whole Foods during your break (where the Pomme Frite station is particularly amazing).

Still, that hasn’t stopped big stores in New York (and elsewhere) from changing up their shopping bag design, attempting to create “walking billboards” out of their shoppers - at least according to the New York Times.

They claim stores have recently started revamping their shopping bags for brighter, smarter sacks that attract more customers and also broadcast the store’s allure - but I think the true test of a store’s shopping bags is how often they get reused.

Cathy Horyn recently recounted an experience of seeing a guy on the street hauling a Jimmy Choo bag which “had cost him enough to feel proud and, I suppose, pleased with himself.”

My two Jimmy Choo shoppers got sent out with the recycling, but I do have one Louis Vuitton bag under my bed that I don’t really want to chuck, though it’s too small to carry anything except a few cannoli (my winter addiction).

Do you keep your shopping bags? Which ones? Why?

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posted by miss

Dec 17, 2007 10:22AM

oh gaud -- I'm a big bag hoarder (but only the good ones!). By far my favorite are the smaller marc jacobs bags -- they are like stiff cardboard and last several uses without a wrinkle.

posted by jen b

Dec 17, 2007 10:41AM

I always save my Chanel bags. I have the smallest one pinned above my desk because I think it's pretty. (Also there is oddly a good resale for them on ebay so if I ever feel the need to get rid of a few...)
My boyfriend got me a giant weekender bag from Betsey Johnson which came in an even bigger pink BJ bag that I totally saved.
Otherwise all my other bags always go in the trash and if I bring lunch, I always use the small black bodega bags we have a collection of from daily liquor store visits.

posted by sam alex

Dec 17, 2007 10:59AM

I save any shopping bag that's large and sturdy. They come in handy at university, especially this time of year - toss belongings in bags, toss said bags in abused car, drive home and toss bags and belongings onto good ol' bedroom floor.

I really do feel better re-using the bags...trash bags may hold more clothing, but they don't age too well. And I don't have room for suitcases in my dorm; I can reach the refrigerator from my bed as is. But that's another story.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:01AM

i hate girls who walk around with victoria's secret bags, with sexy written on it. ok, you buy lingerie and you're great in bed, WE GET IT.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:16AM

I keep all of my bags to reuse, but for environmental, not fashion, reasons.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:27AM

I keep all bags for future use, from supermarket bags for cat litter, to fashion carrier bags for carrying random bits. Not bothered about the designer thing, that seems like the sort of thing girls did when I was a teenager. Gap bags are a current favourite due to the drawstring closure.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:33AM

I still have my Marc Jacobs shopping bag from my first purchase from the store. I keep it because it serves as a reminder that I finally own a peice of my favorite designers collection (besides from the actuall piece of clothing that is) haha.

posted by Lindsaysue12

Dec 17, 2007 11:33AM

I keep mine because they are easy to reuse. I use them to haul school projects, lunch, a change of clothes ect ect. I don't really care where the bag is from, just as long as it will hold up.

I used to save all the anf bags...mainly for the hottie-boom-volatties on the side :)

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:36AM

I can't seem to part with my Prada, Chanel and Corso Como bags. They seem to hold a special romance for me, more about my love for the items and those particular shopping experiences, and less about publicly showing off.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:47AM

the flying A bags are definitely the best

posted by Frank

Dec 17, 2007 11:51AM

Laetly, I've been taking as few shopping bags as possible; instead I opt to shove what I can in my everyday duffle or tote with one exception: the small Barney's bags. I love these because they're perfect for carrying a bottle or two of wine either to a party or to a BYOB restaurant. They're perfect because of the longer straps.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 12:01PM

i save all my bloomingdale's bags. i just think they're adorable and they're great to tote stuff around in when you're shopping

posted by mpw

Dec 17, 2007 12:11PM

Yes, it's a tiny bit thrilling to walk out of Barneys with the black bag and have everyone know you just bought something, but it seems kind of ridiculous to reuse the bag to transport your leftover pad thai to work the next day. I usually avoid that problem by not taking a bag and stuffing my purchases in my purse.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 12:37PM

i use my barney's coop bags all the time, i have a million they are made of cloth and amazing, i use them to lug groceries, my clothes when i visit my parents, my gym stuff etc etc

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 12:45PM

fredericks bag , abercrombie bags sooo sturdy with the fabric handles
express bags are key too

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 12:47PM

I dont really save bags anymore but i have about 10 Nordstrom boxes. I dont know why I have so many. When it comes time for X-mas i dont even use them, i just got them stacked in my closet.

posted by Ryan

Dec 17, 2007 12:51PM

I hope that this doesn't appear twice but..
I got a great fabric bag from Peach Berserk in Toronto. It's small but stretchy and is the perfect size to carry my dress shoes in (don't want to wreck them in the snow!)

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 1:07PM

YES! Environmental, fun, necessity - these are all the reasons I do. If I have a bunch of tupperware to give back to mom, I throw it in a shopping bag; or when I need to haul a ton of clothes to the goodwill, or return all the stuff my BFF has left at my place over the last few weeks, why not use a shopping bag? It makes no sense to just trash them, function wins over fashion every time and shopping bags are highly functional.

posted by miss

Dec 17, 2007 1:14PM

oh yah - i have a wides black canvas tote bag from Barney's COOP that i use all the time! for the airport to protect my handbag and SLR camera equip in. But I did get sick of blasting their logo so took a black Sharpie marker to it.

Flying A bags are the best for toting things on a wet day (they are plastic/nylon and zip close)

posted by miss

Dec 17, 2007 1:16PM

And wanted to add about girls who carry Victoria Secret bags -- i don't think it screams 'i'm good in bed!' -- i think it screams 'i've been scammed into buying lame "lingerie"!'

posted by shinyredthermos

Dec 17, 2007 1:25PM

i saved the shopping bag from my first louis vuitton purchase. now if i save a bag to reuse its so im not wasting. but i try to not even get shopping bags anymore. because i feel guilty throwing them away and i cant find a usage for ALL of them.

posted by leia

Dec 17, 2007 1:44PM

I save the pretty bags...Neiman's, Barney's, and Marc Jacobs.... The bigger ones end up shoved behind my dresser, and the little ones under my sink in the kitchen, ready to be used to take my lunch. I did buy a pair of flip flops at Madewell last summer, and the bag was a great cotton drawstring bag that can carry my lunches forever!
I also love to save the plastic garment bags they wrap your clothes in at Neiman's. I use them when I travel for my blouses and dresses that wrinkle. Somehow when you slip them over the garments and carefuly fold the bag into your suitcase, they don't wrinkle as bad. The Neiman's ones are thick enought to use four or five times.

posted by Jacqueminette

Dec 17, 2007 1:57PM

I save every shopping bag I get, but for different purposes:

1. The plastic ones get used to line trash cans, or for recycling plastics.
2. The uglier/generally-less-cool ones get used for recycling paper products.
3. The neat-looking ones that aren't ridiculously branded get used as a gift bag, with some sort of collage to cover the marque.
4. The Cartier bags I keep for myself

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 3:53PM

I keep Scoop shopping bags because they are always good to use for anything, especially plane traveling. The long handle on them is easy to throw on your shoulder. I also keep Hermes shopping bags/boxes just because they're too pretty to throw away.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 4:43PM

i recycle all bags, whether they're from gucci or target.

i use the cheap drug store plastic bags as an alternative to boot trees. i stuff a bunch into one plastic bag then stuff that into my boots. it keeps them from flopping over or scrunching down.

the smaller saks fifth ave bags are the perfect size for lunch.

posted by jesspgh

Dec 17, 2007 5:08PM

I save a lot of bags. The paper whole foods ones hold my newspaper recycling. The ones I get on vacation are mementos of my precious far away finds (my favorites are from smaller boutiques in Paris and St. Barths). The Saks holiday bags (with the snowflakes) are pretty enough to be gift bags this time of year. The Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc bags are super sturdy and have some resale value so I just keep them in case. And the newer saks bags featured in the article are just nice looking so I use them as totes when I go to relatives houses with wrapped presents.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 5:23PM

I also save the pretty bags! Chanel, Dior, Tiffany, a lot of those are super thick. I have a super huge ( like 3 feet wide) Marc by Marc shopping bag, which stores a ridiculous amount of shoes boxes, and I am also saving it for moving purposes.

The cutest bags would have to be from Kid Robot, I love carrying them around after i make a purchase, they are so fun and whimsical. And when I get home, i put them on display.

Great thinking for using plastic bags as boot trees! Thanks!

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 5:44PM

C'mon. A bag's a bag. Gucci, Target, Whole Foods, or Babies 'R Us - they carry my goods and get reused daily. In my life, bags serve a very specific purpose: I'd prefer not to spill food, drink, et al, on my phone, journal, calendar, and other extraneous items in my purse. You decide how you're going to save the planet with your methods, this one works for me.

posted by katpi

Dec 17, 2007 5:47PM

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 8:14PM

I'm such a packrat with shopping bags, but I always save ones that I particularly like. I recently moved out of my apartment and tossed most of them I didn't need to use for packing, but I made my father keep my huuuuuuuuuuuuge LV bag (my friend works there and sold me a huge discontinued bag she got on major discount) that I literally can fit into because I don't think I'll ever have a Louis shopping bag as big as that for a realllllyyyy long time... he thought I was insane..but I can't part.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 9:34PM

Ruehl bags are the best! Dark brown with rope twill handles...long after I've forgotten what I bought there.. the bag remains my go to bag for bringing lunch.

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:01PM

I keep this bliss bag I got, it's cloth like, it folds small enough so that I can carry it in my purse when I need an extra bag :)

posted by guest

Dec 17, 2007 11:44PM

yeah i dont really know why i save my shopping bags but they just seem to be too good to waste. Actually it depends on the store, how could anyone just throw away those Chanel shopping bags? I guess for some people carrying around those bags is once again proof that they actually bought something from the store (mostly designer stores I'm guessing).

posted by guest

Dec 18, 2007 12:14AM

hermes... i cannot bring myself to throw out their ribbons and boxes... and even parting with the bags takes time...

posted by dumbbrunette5

Dec 18, 2007 3:07AM

i save my shopping bags to line trash bins or if im moving or going somewhere i wrap my shoes in them before i put them in my suitcase so they dont get my clothes dirty. but i have a tupperware container that I bring my lunches in.

posted by alicia_fallow_au

Dec 18, 2007 5:16AM

most chain stores in australia provide reusable, non-woven bags now.

my favourite are the ones you get at mimco, which are see-through pvc. they make great beach bags, and some people even have the gall to sell them on ebay!

one listing said "this bag is not available to purchase in any mimco stores" to which my thought bubble replied "no you twit, because it's free".

posted by guest

Dec 18, 2007 10:41AM

i keep bags because its a waste to toss them when i can make use, but i'll lug around anything from a starbucks bag (perfect for lunch!) to a duane reed bag to a tiffany's bag. i think the real test is when you don't actually give a shit about what you're carrying.