Latest news with #reusablebags
Forbes
27-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Baggu Bags, Merrell Clogs and The New Attraction To Functional Fashion
A photo from Baggu's Instagram @baggu captioned "Reusable Bags: carry 2-3 plastic grocery bags worth of stuff." (Photo courtesy of Baggu) As consumer values shift within the apparel industry—typically due to social influences, economic turbulence or technological advancements, among other things—the trends that make up modern style volley between silhouettes that emphasize form and construction designed for function. With financial instability looming over U.S. shoppers due to shifting tariff policies affecting the price of manufactured goods, some of the biggest brands in fashion are popularizing a new type of style—one that offers consumers a more resourceful way to spend their earnings that puts durability, quality and comfort first. The infiltration of utilitarian design details have begun to saturate the market with newly released garments and accessories that adhere to consumer needs and look stylish while doing so. A photo from Baggu's Instagram @baggu captioned "Fits about 12 Granny Smith apples." (Photo courtesy of Baggu) One brand that stands out amongst the rest is travel and accessory giant Baggu. Spawned in 2007 with a limited selection of reusable shopping bags, the brand has grown to include a number of carry-all silhouettes and is quickly becoming a generational staple for young shoppers with an eye for bright colorways and functional design. The unique value proposition comes not only from Baggu's intentional use of recycled materials, eco-conscious packaging and minimal fabric waste techniques, but from the brand's consistent use of user-centric design that keeps consumers returning. Amongst modern shoppers, Baggu-branded bags have gained a reputation for their comfortable silhouettes and spacious designs—often recommended for amusement parks, sporting events, travel or any occasion that requires durability, longevity and accessibility. In an interview with Baggu, the brand remarked on its ability to balance quality and structure with fashionable design, saying, 'At Baggu, we believe good design should be both functional and delightful. Our products are high quality thanks to strong relationships with our factories and a focused set of materials we've developed over time to meet our strict sustainability standards.' In the same interview, the brand highlighted their commitment to the customer's user experience—integrating consumer preferences into its product design. 'We're always listening to our customers—through direct feedback in our stores, social media and sales data—and their preferences play a huge role in our design process. With such a broad customer base, we really try to design each season with a variety of aesthetics and use cases in mind, while still staying true to our brand's core identity,' said Baggu. A photo from Merrell's Instagram @merrell introducing the brand's new SpeedARC Surge BOA shoe silhouette. (Photo courtesy of Merrell) In addition to garnering attention for previously slow-growing brands like Baggu, the recent spotlight on functional fashion has also provided more established or heritage brands with a new audience. Merrell, founded in 1981 and known for its outdoorsy selection of hiking shoes, sneakers and boots, has subtly remerged as the newest destination for fashionable footwear. In this new era of style focused heavily on wearability, consumer's are attracted to the brand's use of tactical details such as elasticated laces and chunky outsoles—details initially designed purely for athletic function but are now being incorporated into user's everyday attire. Despite the slightly different pathways each brands went down to reach the space within the market they are currently, the commitment both Baggu and Merrell has to the wants of their consumers—products that feel functional, look functional and are functional—is parallel. In addition to individual brands gaining widespread popularity amongst consumers for their ability to seamlessly integrate user experience into their design model, specific style trends have emerged which further clarify the direction the fashion industry is taking towards utilitarian design. One style detail repeatedly integrated into recent clothing and accessory designs is pockets. Heavily present during the 'fisherman core aesthetic' craze that dominated consumers a few moths previous and strategically integrated into the plethora of maximalist silhouettes shown during fall Fashion Week, the classic adornment has been newly popularized to align with the industry's shift towards functional, user-centric design—with deep cargo-like pockets inspired by traditional military silhouettes appearing on a variety of garments and providing additional functionality to every look they appear on. This detail in particular was even picked up in a recent report from trend forecasting service WGSN. The platform stated that, 'Utilitarian aesthetics seamlessly blend with streetwear and for summer 2025, pockets take center stage as a key detail.' In addition to pockets, shoulder pads and shirt collars, several other uniform-inspired details have contributed to the current rise in utilitarian fashion with a number of fan-favorite brands at varying price points adorning them to a variety of unique clothing silhouettes. As the varying price of goods continues to dictate the ways in which the apparel industry will progress, functionality remains a pivotal factor in garment production—acting as a physical representation of the consumer's desire for more authority over their life, their finances and their wardrobe.
New York Times
12-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- New York Times
Our Sustainability Editor's Guide to (Actually) Going Plastic-Free
What does reducing plastic waste look like? It's different for everyone. My advice: Don't chase perfection. It's admirable to go 100% plastic-free, but it's impractical, and even impossible, for the vast majority of us. Instead, start small. Pick a routine or a room and go from there. Here are some ideas: Group online purchases. If you regularly order stuff online, group purchases from retailers like Amazon and opt for slower delivery. This helps reduce packaging waste (and greenhouse gas emissions). If you regularly order stuff online, group purchases from retailers like Amazon and opt for slower delivery. This helps reduce packaging waste (and greenhouse gas emissions). Pack a reusable shopping bag. Keep shopping totes where you won't forget them — so you'll actually use them. A packable tote, like this one, is compact enough to stash in an everyday bag. If you drive to the store, keep your totes in the trunk of your car so they're always available. Keep shopping totes where you won't forget them — so you'll actually use them. A packable tote, like this one, is compact enough to stash in an everyday bag. If you drive to the store, keep your totes in the trunk of your car so they're always available. Buy bulk, refillable, or solid goods. This includes soaps, detergents, and shampoos — you'll run through less plastic packaging over a lifetime shopping this way. You can also opt for cardboard packaging (like some of our favorite dish detergents), which has a higher likelihood of being recycled than plastic. This includes soaps, detergents, and shampoos — you'll run through less plastic packaging over a lifetime shopping this way. You can also opt for cardboard packaging (like some of our favorite dish detergents), which has a higher likelihood of being recycled than plastic. Pack a to-go mug, bottle, or tumbler. We have recommendations for glass and stainless steel containers if you want to avoid drinking from plastic. We have recommendations for glass and stainless steel containers if you want to avoid drinking from plastic. Use plastic-free items you already own. We often go looking for a one-to-one swap for the single-use plastic item we want to replace. But you can also use what you already have. My favorite swaps for cling-wrap in the fridge: Put a plate on top of a bowl — or just reuse a pickle jar to store food. Another good time to think about going plastic-free is once it's time to upgrade something in your home. Sometimes, a plastic-free item is more expensive upfront, but you're often getting durability, repairability, and even lifetime use in return. We have lots of ideas for kitchen utensils and bathroom swaps to get you started. Think in terms of textiles, too — polyester or nylon can be swapped for a more breathable natural fiber next time you're in need of new jeans. Wirecutter's experts are considering plastic — both waste and potential risks — in making recommendations every day. Our guides to the best baby bottles, food storage containers, and feeding tools for babies and kids all have prioritized making great plastic-free recommendations. In some cases — like our guide to the best dog poop bags — we've eliminated products from the running that are 100% virgin plastic when there are high-quality, high-value alternatives, even when it's complicated. Still, the truth is there are many areas where plastic-free options that meet our standards do not exist yet. And there are still others where plastic, for all its problems, is just one of many environmental impacts we have to consider. One last shopping tip from me? I like to pause for at least 24 hours before buying anything unplanned. It helps me save money and contribute less to needless waste. If you get overwhelmed, zoom out. At its core, reducing is about shopping more slowly, maintaining and repairing what you have, and considering secondhand or refurbished options.
The Sun
10-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Primark to introduce huge change in just HOURS that will leave shoppers fuming
PRIMARK is set to introduce a huge change in just a few hours - and it could leave shoppers fuming. The high street retailer hopes the change will inspire more customers to use reusable bags. The retailer has announced it will start charging customers for their paper bags, which have been free up until this point. From May 12, Primark customers will have to pay 15p for all paper bags, whether small, medium, or large. It explained that they use 'use thousands of paper bags every day' and while the paper bags are made from '100% recycled and recyclable materials ', they are 'always looking for ways to cut down on single-use waste.' The retailer said: 'We're introducing a small fee to single use paper bags. Got a reuseable bag? Bring it along next time you visit our stores. 'Why the change? Research shows that introducing bag charges reduces the number of new bags customers use. 'It's a simple step that encourages all of us to think twice about our use.' Primark recommended that customers bring their own reusable shopping bags when they come to shop in stores. However, they added: 'If you forget to bring a bag, we've got you covered in-store with re useable shopping bags in a variety of sizes, starting from just 80p. 'You'll spot them at the tills in white or our signature brown style, both made from sturdy materials designed to withstand your shopping trips. 'If you're after a more stylish option, we stock canvas tote bags all year round.' What's new in at Primark for spring-summer Primark said they hoped the change will 'inspire more customers to make the switch to reusable bags.' Shoppers have been left fuming after the change was announced. One annoyed customer said: 'This makes me so mad, like it was supposed to be to help plastic waste and plastic bags PAPER BAGS SHOULD BE FREE.' Another pointed out: 'Trouble with these 'bags for life' are absolutely not recyclable, are so much more plastic and everyone has a million of them now for fun. 'Just made the problem worse.' A third said: 'Do I get a refund when it rips within ten seconds or disintegrates in the rain?' However, one person commented: 'All these people moaning just take your own reusable bags.' Why Primark is great for looking expensive on a budget By Clemmie Feildsend, Fabulous Fashion Editor AS someone who's no stranger to grabbing a last-minute outfit from Primark for a night out, it's about time that celebrities started catching on too. For as long as I've been heading out, Primark has been my go-to for those 'I have nothing to wear' moments, rushing in at the last minute to find something perfect. And I'm definitely not alone - on any Friday or Saturday night, you'll find plenty of shoppers doing the same thing, right before closing time. But no matter what, Primark always delivers. Now, Rita Ora is leading the charge, showing that you can snag a designer-worthy look without spending a fortune at high-end stores. While Rita's not rushing in last minute for a red carpet outfit, she's proving you can achieve the same high-impact style for much less. Looking stunning in her tailored suit alongside her mum Vera, Rita fit right in among the other A-listers dripping in Prada, Dior, and Victoria Beckham - if anything, she looked even better than some of the guests at The Fashion Awards. With Myleene Klass and Roxy Horner already jumping on the Primark bandwagon, I'm sure more stars will be following suit soon enough.
