Earth Day is around the corner. April 22 for anyone interested.
Like Earth Hour that passed us by early this month, I am a little troubled by Earth Day and by the whole environment-friendly theme. Somehow, I feel that instead of raising awareness of the environment or actually doing something to “green the Earth” many companies are in fact taking advantage of the environment to boost sales.
I was made to think when I saw pictures of the latest Anya Hindmarch Canvas Tote with leather straps. Each canvas tote comes with a different print and there are 6 prints in all according to the website.
I see this as riding on the popularity of the “I’m not a Plastic Bag” bag that caught the world by storm. To me, the popularity of that one is less for not being a plastic bag and more for being an affordable Anya Hindmarch bag! This time we aren’t seeing the lines of people queueing up for these canvas totes because they retail for GBP55. Still affordable for an Anya Hindmarch but not so affordable that people will queue for hours for it.
In Malaysia, you can get the Anya Hindmarch Canvas Tote at Isetan The Gardens for RM590.
I don’t know. If I were going to save on a plastic bag, I think I’d opt for a RUME bag – more practical, more space saving, and simply more affordable! I can soil a RUME with my marketing (its washable) – I don’t think I’d be able to bring myself to soil an Anya Hindmarch!
What do you think? Green or Gimmick?
[poll id=”16″]
Stay beautiful,
Paris B
beetrice says
April 19, 2009 at 2:17 pmGBP55? *ouch*…sorry, but at those prices, I’d rather fork moola over to the relevant NGOs… 🙂
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:56 amHey Beetrice
Yep! And its RM590 here – way too much to pay for a canvas bag IMO
Jessica says
April 19, 2009 at 3:21 pmgimmick all the way PB! But they’re pretty cute tho.
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:57 amHey Jessica
Yep really cute stuff. But I’ll stick to Roototes for canvas bags for now 😉
Amanda says
April 19, 2009 at 5:46 pm£55 for that bag? I don’t think I’ll spend that much of money on an environmental friendly tote. I love my Envirosax which I got for 8,50€ last summer. It’s light and it fits into my handbag perfectly, I carry it whenever I go out.
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:57 amHiya Amanda
Yay for being green! I prefer the RuMe myself – it stands up better to wear.
Monstro says
April 19, 2009 at 8:27 pmPart of being green, is to save money and resources…so why is this bag so darn expensive and made of leather?? Strategy is so off, this is for the slaves to fashion. 🙂
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:58 amHey Monstro
Slaves to fashion indeed! They don’t need to do their own grocery shopping! 😛
Connie says
April 19, 2009 at 10:57 pmsuch a gimmick! save trees but kill cows while you’re at it! 😀 Hmm… my rootote’s serving me quite well! and only RM40
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:59 amHiya Connie
LOL at killing cows 😀 Yeah Roototes do the job at a fraction of the price.
Li says
April 20, 2009 at 9:30 amgimmick for sure. So was the Anya Hindmarch “Not a plastic bag” bag. i still see those (real and knockoff) going around town mostly empty on the shoulders of people carrying disposable plastic bags.
greenwashing is everywhere nowadays, even in those places you wouldn’t expect it 🙁
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 9:59 amHiya Li
And no one would see it more than you would! I must confess to wanting the “I’m Not a plastic bag” bag but that was because I knew it would be the only Anya Hindmarch I’d ever be able to afford! It wasn’t even the design that I liked heh…
JackieA says
April 20, 2009 at 2:29 pmThose tote’s I am sure are pretty good fashion picks for AH fans but its important to note that healing the environment is a mammoth task that starts with small adjustments to the way we do things. Certainly the production of those bags would have put some serious dents in the conservation efforts of the environment. Your suggestions of alternative bag brands that serve the same purpose but at a cheaper price is certainly something we should all think of investing in. Thanks PB.
ParisB says
April 20, 2009 at 6:34 pmHiya JackieA
You are absolutely right about the production of the bags. It will definitely put a toll on the environment – tanning leather has polluted rivers for centuries! I like the RuMe – I like it so much I’m going to feature it soon 🙂
Tine says
April 24, 2009 at 6:44 amHahaha, I remember the “I’m Not A Plastic Bag” craze. I much preferred the parodies of the bags, especially the “I’m Not A Twat” bag. HAHAHAHA!!