Going green doesn’t mean sacrificing on style. As Abu Dhabi bans single-use plastic bags from June 1 and Dubai prepares to introduce a mandatory 25 fils charge for each single use bag from July 1, turn to the likes of Christian Dior, Stella McCartney and Chloe for trendy tote bags that offer more than enough room to carry all your essentials.
English designer Anya Hindmarch became synonymous with high-end canvas bags when she created the I’m Not A Plastic Bag tote in 2007. The piece was made in collaboration with global social change movement We Are What We Do (now known as Shift) and UK supermarket Sainsbury’s. It sold for £5 ($6), making it much more affordable than her premium pieces.
The concept has since evolved and the designer’s I Am A Plastic Bag launched in 2020. The customisable pieces use waste plastic bottles that are recovered, broken down and turned into polyester pellets. In turn, the pellets are melted into fibres, spun and woven to create the I Am A Plastic Bag tote.
“There are 8 billion tonnes of plastic on the planet, but when you throw a piece away, there is no away,” Hindmarch says.
“In a small step towards reusing what we already have, we’ve created the I Am A Plastic Bag collection. Each bag is made from an innovative new cotton canvas-feel fabric that’s created from 32 half-litre recycled plastic bottles. The fabric is then coated with recycled windscreens. Each piece is designed to never be thrown away.”
Jumbo totes have become staples of fashion week runways, with New Zealand brand Yu Mei, Supreme and Sporty & Rich all launching XXL canvas creations of their own. Here are some options for you to consider.
12 affordable but fashionable reusable canvas bags to buy:
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Waitrose x Nuaimi tote bag, Dh49 at Waitrose stores -
Large capacity blue and beige foldable grocery bag, Dh40 at noon.com -
Orange canvas Anya Hindmarch tote, Dh1,300 at theoutnet.com -
Pink tote, Dh15 at Kiabi.ae -
Blue nylon shopping bag, Dh20 at Muji -
Set of two camel-print canvas totes, Dh9 at noon.com -
Black market tote, Dh149 at bellroy.com -
Logo tote bag, Dh10 at Grandiose stores -
Foldable pink Typo tote, Dh29 at Namshi.com -
Cotton Lakeland bag for life, Dh30 at 6thStreet.com -
Orange canvas Typo tote, Dh76 at Namshi.com -
Bonus buy: set of three Evriholder reusable produce bags, Dh20 at Homesmith stores
