Long gone are the days of the hippie string bag at the checkout, when you would hold up an entire line of shoppers while you valiantly tried to save the environment.


Count forward to the invention of the naughties the Coles green bag. All of sudden we were all doing our bit for the environment carrying around the new fashion accessory. So much more than a grocery bag, the green bag has so many functions due to its boxlike shape, hard plastic base and short handles that sit perfectly over the arm.

We have seen the green bag around used as a yummy mummy nappy bag, a shoe bag for the professional woman, weekend tote for the markets, beach bag, overnighter and picnic basket.

Where we used to proudly carry our boutique shopping bags we now carry our green bags. And the retailers were quick to jump on the bandwagon. Marcs, Peter Alexander and Myer all came up with a version, Shop Til Drop and Harpers do a bag. Myer even enlisted the help of Leona Edmiston and Wayne Cooper to design theirs.

The Green Bag has become a style icon. We can now pick and choose from our favourite designers and help market their brand. Much like Sass and Bide used Sarah Jessica Parker, Mischa Barton and Kylie to show their jeans to the world, designers and chain retailers are using the humble Green Bag.

These days the invention of a style icon creates choice. Roland Mouret created the Galaxy dress and all of a sudden everyone from Cue to Bardot was doing the dress of 2006. So who is doing the best Green Bag?

Coles has quickly broadened the colour palette of its original green bag. We can now choose from hot pink, fire-engine red, navy, chocolate and yellow. Yummie mummies can now choose a bag to complement their Bugaboo. BiLo quickly followed with the coloured versions and overtook the pack with its printed Green Bags. We spied the Mona Lisa printed on a chocolate BiLo tote as well as a homage to Star Wars.

Myer did well from its designer versions, I would love to see David Jones give the old black and white houndstooth an update on a Green Bag. The Marcs tote is a bigger size with great colour options however, the Supre bag of the same design is not. I see too many stylish girls walking around the city sporting these. All this does is makes it obvious where you shop ladies!

A quick search online unearthed these rather fashionable Earth Tote Bags – at www.earthtotebags.com.au pictured here. And the original ‘green’ string bag is given a twist, find it in organic cotton in just about any colour to complement your handbag.

A good outfit is judged from head to toe. Think of this next time you grab a Green Bag while you are doing our groceries. Do you pay 99c for the authentic original or a little more for style?

Post your thoughts on how to go green in style below