So here's my first product review for The Old Bag Project: my personal mission to find the best alternative to a plastic bag.
Dig your veg bag from Carry-a-Bag
Weighing in at £25 a throw plus £2.50 P&P, it's not the cheapest of options, but this bag is one for those of you who want a well-made bag that won't flinch from a heavy load of fresh veg or your week's shopping at the farmer's market, is durable and looks rather stylish too.
This bag also has the bonus of being fully reversible, so if you get fed up of the pattern on the outside you can ring the changes. If you want to use it for work, the dig your veg bag is big enough to fit a newspaper, your lunchbox and some A4 files in, and crucially, the handles are just the right length to wear over your shoulder or carried at arm's length without dragging on the floor.
I suspect the fabric - vintage cotton recycled from curtains or table cloths - will survive lots of washes, which is crucial if, like me, your bag gets trailed along dirty train carriages or even plonked on the bench of your shed.
Sally Walton's Carry-a-Bag site offers cloth shopping bags in a variety of designs: you can also ask her to make a bag specifically for a special occasion.
The Old Bag Project rating for the dig your veg bag:
Verdict: a quality bag that will outlast the most sturdy plastic job, but not a cheap option
Want to read more about The Old Bag Project? It's all explained here.
Nice, but £25 does sound a bit steep - looking forward to more old bag action!
Posted by: Julia | February 28, 2007 at 04:32 PM
Don't worry, I'll be reviewing Tesco bags for life next!
Posted by: Jane Perrone | February 28, 2007 at 05:55 PM
Oh, I like this bag! But, you're right, a bit pricey, especially in dollars! I followed your link and enjoyed reading about your project. Good for you! I'll have to see what you find next! Carry on!
Posted by: Gotta Garden | March 01, 2007 at 01:09 PM
Cool bag!
Posted by: D | March 01, 2007 at 05:25 PM
Found a great bag from a homestore named Butlers in Solihull(think they're nation wide, and may be German).
Big enough to hold my laptop and folders for taking work home, to carry my lunch to work, for shopping, but is cloth so doesn't take up much room in my bag. Is washable (though at 30 degrees)
Oh, and it was only 3.99
Posted by: Joy | March 02, 2007 at 11:31 AM
If you can bear advertising M and S, they have a very strong canvas bag for 99p which I have been swinging up and down to the allotment with my small bits and secateurs etc.
Posted by: Gnome | March 04, 2007 at 06:22 PM