In the realm of common household items, supermarket carrier bags might be considered the most unassuming. Typically, these bags end up crammed into drawers or used until they deteriorate, rarely attracting any special attention.
However, these once-overlooked items are experiencing a resurgence in popularity.
On platforms like eBay, Vinted, and Depop, vintage carrier bags from retailers such as Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Netto, and Waitrose are being listed for approximately £10—significantly more than their original free distribution. Vinted has reported a 35% increase in searches for these bags compared to the previous year.
What was once merely a utility for grocery shopping has transformed into a collectible item. Notably, an Instagram account called Carry a Bag Man has garnered over 15,000 followers, dedicated solely to this phenomenon.
Jeremy Leslie, founder of MagCulture, a magazine retailer in London, suggests that this trend reflects a broader desire for tangible items. He notes, “We see it with magazines; people are seeking real objects in their lives. These bags evoke nostalgia, serving as comforting reminders of past eras.”
While some may find the idea of collecting plastic bags strange, Tim Sumner embraces it wholeheartedly. In 2020, he established the Paper Bag Archive, amassing over 3,500 vintage paper bags along with a selection of plastic ones. Sumner views these bags as “important symbols of social history,” highlighting how they reflect the cultural tastes and preferences of different decades. “Celebrating these seemingly trivial items is crucial, as they often hold memories that endure,” he adds.
The M&S St Michael bag, which was a common sight on high streets during the 1980s and 1990s, has become especially sought after. Its iconic status, having been associated with the brand from 1928 until 2000, resonates across generations, drawing interest even from those who are too young to remember it firsthand.
This nostalgic bag is now featured in a new collection by the trendy London streetwear brand Aries, set to launch on August 20. The lineup includes a £90 leather tote designed to resemble the classic St Michael carrier.
Lisa Illis, M&S’s head of womenswear design, remarked, “Transforming an everyday carrier bag into a collectible leather item perfectly encapsulates our partnership’s essence—celebrating the cultural significance of St Michael while appealing to a new demographic. It reinvents something familiar through a modern lens.”
Nostalgia plays a significant role in the Aries collaboration, with Sofia Prantera, the brand’s designer and founder, drawing inspiration from her childhood experiences. “M&S was integral to family life for me. It represents a true British institution that has influenced many lives and memories,” she explains.
Vintage St Michael apparel is also in demand on secondhand marketplaces. Illis states, “St Michael holds a distinctive place in British culture. For many, it evokes memories of a reliable brand woven into everyday life, while younger consumers view it as a coveted piece of fashion history.”
Old carrier bags, too, embody a sense of fashion history, especially when compared to the flimsy bags currently sold for 20p at supermarkets. “They feel much sturdier than today’s offerings,” Sumner notes, although he cautions that any bags produced after 2000 tend to disintegrate upon handling due to their quicker biodegradation design.
In light of growing environmental concerns, the use of plastic bags in supermarkets has become less acceptable. Anti-plastic initiatives in the 2000s, alongside high-demand items like Anya Hindmarch’s “I am not a plastic bag” tote—which saw 80,000 people lined up for it in 2007—have shifted consumer attitudes. The government implemented a mandatory charge for single-use plastic bags in 2015, resulting in a staggering 98% reduction in their sales by 2023.
This change is mirrored in the secondhand market, where canvas bags offered for free by brands like APC, Octobre Editions, and Alo with purchase have gained popularity, often selling for over £10. Recently, Vogue dubbed the Alo bag “this summer’s must-have beach accessory,” while the canvas bag from Trader Joe’s, purchased for $4, has emerged as a status symbol on the streets of London.
While some may believe that older carrier bags are valued for their superior design, Leslie suggests the opposite may be true. “The charm of older items lies in their simplicity and rawness, rather than being the product of a meticulous design process,” he explains. “It was more about saying, ‘This is our shade of green, and that’s good enough for us.’”
