IKEA Charging for Bags - Will You B.Y.O.B.?
BRING YOUR OWN BAG! Now that IKEA is charging for bags, will you be bringing your own alternative? Rather than stocking up on a bunch of ugly cheap totes, perhaps you could have some fun buying or making some to fill up with cheap votives and frames the next time you go to the big yellow and blue box. Personally, I’m always looking for an excuse to buy a fabulous new bag, and let’s face it, the 59 cent IKEA bag is just not stylish enough for moi. It doesn’t match any of my shoes either.
Personally, I’m an old-school prepster, and I never go anywhere without my monogrammed L.L. Bean tote. It’s pretty much the only good bridesmaid gift I ever received. I cart around post office packages, dry cleaning, groceries (this baby holds a lot of wine bottles), gym clothes, whatever. I never leave home without it. Beans has the plain old standard boat tote, preppy patterns, and monogramming available:
More for the preppy set are available over at J.Crew (a little pricier than Beans, but a little cuter):
Then there are always the kate spade baby bags - good not only for baby stuff, but also for laptops and shopping:
For a spunkier bag, I love Isaac Mizrahi for Target’s sawgrass bag with faux patent leather trim. It also comes with white trim and pink trim:
For a little more expression, I love these fun art and animation totes from Anthropologie:
Of course I am partial to the graphic Angela Adams tote we carry:
Orla Kiely is a bag master:
Also in this higher price range, you can always go J.P. Tods or Marc Jacobs. Personally, I think the girl on this Miss Marc thing looks like that creepy girl in “The Ring”:
For something a little more affordable, Urban Outfitters has some hilarious smaller totes, featuring Boss Lady and Jesus:
I love these nautical tote bags made from recycled sails. You can find them at Uncommon Goods:
Finally, there are the ingenius D.I.Y. bags that are made of old plastic shopping bags. This one is from DIYNetwork.com:
And this crochet grocery bag is from MAKE:
Incidently, I saw another simpler bag of this nature, made of paper and plastic Safeway bags on a blog last week - did anyone else see it? It had awesome step-by-step instructions. I thought I bookmarked it but I must have forgotten. Please let me know if you have the link.
What does your shopping tote look like? I’d love for you to share - perhaps upload them to our flickr group, or email me at becky@designpublic.com.
IKEA bag Photo and news of the bag charge via Apartment Therapy via Positive fanatics via BBC News
All other photos are linked to their origins.
March 10th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
I think I’ll get an LL Bean tote and have IKEA monogrammed on it. I’ll take it to IKEA and zillions will ask me where IKEA’s selling them. I could then sell them out of my car in the parking lot and make $$$$. But Im afraid the price would not be “Impossible!” Oh well, for a moment I had a dream….
March 14th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
These are super cute ideas but I must say, the IKEA bags have such an awesome functional design! I carried a chair (unassembled) and other goodies home on the bus, using only one hand! They distribute the weight so carrying is a breeze. When will IKEA make these bags as pretty as they are functional? …Thanks!
March 14th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
They are remarkable - I have been known to fit quite a lot in there, though I must say, I always have to leave halfway through and go get a cart as IKEA sucks me in with all kinds of things I never knew I needed!
Becky
March 24th, 2007 at 9:27 am
The only thing worse than shopping at IKEA is ordering something online from them. Don’t count on IKEA making anything “Pretty,” Melissa, they only know function over style.