Woolies ditches the daggy shopping bag for designer drawcard
When British designer Anya Hindmarch started selling her bags in supermarkets in the UK, they sold out. Here, she wants to make a dent in our rubbish pile.
Dame Anya Hindmarch’s luxury reusable shopping bags will launch in Australia at Woolworths stores on Wednesday, March 19. Max Mason-Hubers
It’s been more than 20 years since the small town of Coles Bay in Tasmania led the way by banning single-use plastic bags, and seven years since Coles and Woolworths stopped using them. Despite these efforts, Australia still produces 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually. It’s a number Woolworths is keen to reduce, and this week it will introduce a new weapon in combating plastic waste: the Universal Bag, designed by British accessories legend Dame Anya Hindmarch.
Hindmarch, known for her quirky spin on handbags, started the “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” campaign in 2007, which has since evolved into her Universal Bag project. She is credited with starting the conversation about single-use plastic in fashion.
Lauren SamsFashion editorLauren Sams is the fashion editor, based in Sydney. She writes about lifestyle including the arts, entertainment, fashion and travel. Lauren has worked as a features editor and fashion journalist for ELLE, marie claire and more. Email Lauren at lauren.sams@afr.com
