Following the success of Woolworths’ collaboration with UK designer Anya Hindmarch, Coles has hopped on the bandwagon, selling their version of the Universal Bag in stores for a limited time only. Hindmarch is known for her Universal Bag, which first launched in 2021, and was created after “two years of research and exploration”.
The bag is now available for purchase for $20, leaving shoppers divided over the cost as well as the fact that the supermarket hasn’t collaborated with an Aussie designer. Some say they are willing to pay the extra money for a “good quality” bag, while others are flabbergasted that someone would spend so much on a reusable bag.
Coles shopper Manuela told Yahoo Lifestyle that she loves how “sturdy and well-made” the bag feels, adding that she believes it will “last a long time”.
“The material is thick and durable, so it doesn’t feel like it will fall apart after a few uses,” she said.
“What I love most is the contrast between the grey base and the red stripes — it makes the bag both fun and classy at the same time.
“It’s also really practical: it fits a lot inside, feels comfortable to carry, and even has an inner pocket for smaller items.”
Coles and Anya Hindmarch’s recent collaboration. Photo: TikTok/Coles
Woolworths released their own collaboration with Anya Hindmarch earlier this year. Photo: TikTok/thefoodinbox
Manuela said she thinks it’s “absolutely worth” the $20 price tag and thinks the fact it’s “a limited edition piece” makes it even more special.
According to Hindmarch’s website, the bag is the designer’s “most ambitious sustainability project to date”.
The project tackles single-use plastic and saves waste from landfill, aiming to inspire more people to reuse their items.
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While $20 is a steep cost for a reusable shopping bag, it is a steal when compared to the cost of one of her simpler styles, such as the Eyes Tote, which retails for £343.75, which is about $700.
The designer also has collaborations with retailers like Uniqlo, which are also very popular.
Coles customers divided over Anya Hindmarch collaboration
One Coles customer shared a video of the bags at the Top Ryde store, and wrote, “Run don’t walk. Such a cute colour.”
Another shopper responded, “Dear Coles, we have fashion designers right here in Australia. Why partner with Anya Hindmarch, a foreign designer?”
“Why on earth would you $20 for a shopping bag,” a third questioned, with one person simply writing, “Hell no!”
Someone else said they’d prefer to spend $20 on their groceries.
Others defended the bag, with one person saying she uses it all the time and thinks they’re actually great value.
Do you need to wash your reusable shopping bag?
Woolworths, Coles and Aldi customers are likely making this major mistake with their shop. Photo: Getty
If you use reusable shopping bags, you might not realise that you should be washing them at least every week, if not after every use.
Why do we need to wash them? Research shows that reusable grocery bags can harbour bacteria and mould that can lead to food contamination and food poisoning.
Dr Vincent Ho, a gastroenterologist and senior lecturer at Western Sydney University, told Yahoo Lifestyle that washing your grocery bags can reduce bacteria by “more than 99.9 per cent”, helping keep you and your family safe from foodborne illness.
So, next time you head to your local supermarket, keep this in mind.
“Research from the United States has found that reusable grocery bags can contain large numbers of bacteria, including harmful bacteria that can lead to foodborne illnesses,” Ho said.
“The same study found that these reusable bags are seldom, if ever, washed.
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“Fortunately, washing reusable grocery bags either by hand or via the washing machine can reduce the numbers of bacteria in bags by more than 99.9 per cent.”
Ho said synthetic reusable bags can be washed in “warm, soapy water” or recommended shoppers check for washing instructions on the label.
He explained cross-contamination was a major health issue when bagging groceries and recommended putting fresh produce and ready-to-eat foods in a separate bag to frozen and raw meat, poultry and fish.
“Research has found that when meat juices are added to grocery bags and stored in the trunks of cars for two hours, the number of bacteria increases 10-fold,” he said.
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