Even the name sounds sumptous. Mirrored silver. Leather Envelope. Yum. I saw this leather envelope on Lucky Magazine's Website today. And let me tell you, I was very tempted. Take a look. The Leather Envelope in question is by Anya Hindmarch of all people. Well, it is a bit out of my price range. Case closed on this one. It was the copy that tempted me in the end.

Now this is a reusable shopper I find rather cute. Browsing Happy Mundane, which is always a good browse, I found these photos, and thought I would share them with you. Word has it that Method, the popular eco cleaning products sold at Target, will be offering this "plastic bag rehab" designed by Danny Seo, as a gift with purchase of $20 or more beginning in October. I like this bag better than Anya Hindmarch's, but of course you know that already.

On the back are '16 ways to feel better and look good' while using the bag. Very wry. Sure, I'll buy $20 worth of Method products to get this bag. I am sold. How about you?

The Starfish Tote


The Peacock Tote

There are so many graphically pleasing products at the grocery store. And some that are downright odd, like the Starfish Tote for only 99 cents (pictured above). If only this Starfish Tote would sweep the city as the next Anya Hindmarch eco-friendly grocery shopper! Imagine all the fashion cognoscenti stuffing their belongings and their i-Pods into this bag. I love the strange image.

Starfish Tote, Peacock Tote, and additional styles, 99 cents, photographed and available at the Food Emporium on 1st Avenue & 71st Street. If you want to investigate the Elizabeth Haub Foundation that is printed on the bag, here is the link.

[Many] thanks to a fashion friend of mine, I have been turned back on to the endless great fashion industry nuggets and tid-bits in WWD, the daily newspaper, not the monthly glossy. I can't get the information into my head fast enough. I had subscribed a few times over the years to WWD; and now the timing could not be better for me to start reading in-depth again.

When I subscribed in the past, I did not have a blog. And I did not write for Zoozoom. Or free-lance for marketing and research firms, translating industry trends and writing market research reports for international companies. But now I do (yes I have been busy lately expanding my focus from making designs to writing about design and larger trends); and so the time is right to dip back in to the pages of WWD and devour all of the great information. And why not share some of the interesting tid-bits that catch my eye with you, kind readers of this blog, on a more regular basis?

If you have your copy of WWD handy, please direct your eye to page 15 for Monday, August 13, 2007, to the article entitled, "Panel Examines Future of Accessories" by Caroline Tell. If you don't have your WWD, no matter. I will tell you a bit about Tell's article. A panel discussion was held Tuedsay at the Time & Life Building entitled "Accessorizing the Future," featuring the curator of the Department of Architecture and Design at MOMA, Paola Antonelli (that an architecture expert from a museum was involved with accessories naturally appealed to me), founder and designer of the branding firm Fuseproject, Yves Behar (and now I must investigate what Fuseproject does, because that sounds very interesting to me), Samosonite's global director of marketing and communications, Richard Brett, and Luxottica vice president of product development, Paula Donnelly.

The panel was about "the new dynamics of the accessories market, ranging from sustainability and technology to new methods of individuality." Anya Hindmarch's I'm NOT A Plastic bag was discussed by Samsonite's Richard Brett as "a consumer need rather than a simple gimmick" and "a real zeitgiest of the moment" that succeeded because it was "tied to a bigger movement."

To me, the sustainabilty/eco movement is a most interesting one, in terms of how it is being marketed and sold to the public, and how the public is turning the issue around in their own minds. To be sure, the sustainability/eco movement is shaping how we currently think, even if we are not aware of how it is seeping into our consciousness. That which interests me is how the eco message is being spread: not as much through the expected political activist channels, but through corporate purveyors of luxury who are using product placement, including 'green' luxury goods (from bamboo fibers in high-priced clothing on up to 'socially responsible diamonds'), 'sustainable' architecture (luxury condos, high profile office buildings a la Bryant Park's new Bank of America building and waterfront developments a la Battery Park), and upscale parties and benefits where you can be seen talking the fashionable eco-talk with the upper echelons of purchasing society.

Don't get me wrong. I am just observing what is happening in our world right now, not complaining. I am very interested in all of it. I must further investigate Fuseproject.

The discussion at the "Accessorizing the Future" panel also touched on "the 'individualist' movement in accessories where consumers have opportunities to custom-make everything from their eyeglasses to their bags." As Tell reported, panelists agreed that "today's customer feels the need to make a statement with accessories, and that being able to make one often defines true luxury." Brett added that it was "about having an emotional relationship with a product that reflects one's individuality. And it's very in tune with how luxury is evolving."

I spotted my third I'm NOT A Plastic bag, carried by a shopper in Midtown. I don't think she was on her way to buy groceries though.

I am noticing one extreme drawback of carrying Anya Hindmarch's I'm NOT A Plastic bag as your everyday handbag (instead of as the eco-friendly cloth alternative to a plastic grocery store bag for which it was originally intended). The white canvas bag gets filthy! And I do mean with large unsightly dark stains. In the end, I'm NOT A Plastic bag doesn't really look so nice as an everyday handbag. Something to consider.

I think I would like to start a trend of carrying a plastic grocery store bag as my everyday handbag. Want to join me? After all, the plastic bag is waterproof, and will resist stains.

It is easy to capture my subject because she is sitting across from me on the subway.
Although I have my camera pointed directly at her, she does not protest.
I find it hard, however, to get a clear shot of the bag,
because she keeps it scrunched on her lap.

Well I finally saw one today. An 'I'm NOT A Plastic bag' bag by Anya Hindmarch. We know that the victorious proud owner, depicted above, went to great lengths to get this now-collector's item. Somehow I get the feeling that she does not intend to carry groceries in this bag... Just a hunch.

My feeling on the whole matter: This bag doth protest too much.



Spotted on the 7 Train at Times Square. Identities of the fashionable always protected on this blog. gee

[image from anyahindmarch.com]

Well it seems that mine was not the only blog-tongue wagging yesterday about Anya Hindmarch's I'm NOT A Plastic bag. Musings pro and con about Hindmarch's eco-friendly limited edition designer cloth supermarket tote has been the topic du jour. I had to do a follow-up piece because I thought you might want to investigate further. Click on this link to read the range of opinions.

For all those who like the bag and still desperately want to get their hands on one (you already know my opinion on this), good news. If you start lining up today at your local Whole Foods Market, you still may be able to grab the USA version with navy lettering for $15. when it goes on sale at selected East Coast locations on July 18.



And now, the flip side of eco-chic. Has anyone seen the back of the I'm NOT A Plastic bag bag? Take a look at this post accusing Hindmarch of not-so-green practices with respect to production. Then take a look at the official response from we are what we do (C). My favorite part of their official response is this:

"The bags were made in China”
Claims about "slave labour" were incorrect but the issue is serious and, I think, difficult. [...] The bag would have been significantly more expensive if it had been made elsewhere undermining its accessibility and I guess I buy products manufactured in China everyday. What weight should we give to these considerations?

[excerpt from we are what we do]

Indeed.

[page print from viewimages.com]

I'm NOT A Plastic bag by British designer Anya Hindmarch created quite an eco-stir on the streets of London back in April. The bag only costs 5 pounds, but is in limited quantites, causing customers to line up at Sainsbury's grocery store at unnaturally early hours. And now they are talking about her bag on The Today Show today. I turned off the TV.

Why not just carry a green Le Bag? It's cloth. It's reusable. It needs to be resurrected. It was popular around the same time as Le Car was on the road. You can still find one at Big D stores, I'm sure. Go Green! But go quietly, okay?

[image from enokiworld.com]