(From Amanda Avery, Today Senior Researcher)
On Tuesday I was given an assignment to look into the Anya Hindmarch bag craze that has swept London. On Wednesday morning this bag was going to make its debut in the US..... so I am off to the Anya Hindmarch store in Soho to see the bag that has garnered headlines in the UK papers.
I arrive in Soho with my camera crew at 8:00 am, in the pouring rain, 3 hours before the store is scheduled to open. Our new intern Mary Alice and I begin to think that this day will be a bust. Who is going to show up in NYC on a windy rainy day just to buy a bag? Our answer comes quickly as we turn the corner and see hundreds of soaking wet people, standing under umbrellas, in line to buy the "must have" bag of summer. As I begin to speak to the people in line, I meet 2 girls that have traveled from Taiwan to NYC just to buy this bag... I speak with a man in line waiting to buy the bag for his girlfriend. I meet another young gentleman, dressed in a suit, who got into work this morning and was told to stand in line to buy a bag for his boss's wife.
So what is the deal with this bag?
First, the bag gives a great message. Anya wanted to use her influence in a positive way to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags. The bag is a stylish, practical reusable alternative that she hopes will raise awareness of the issue of wasted packaging and spark debate.
Second, this bag costs only $15!
So where do the profits go? According to Anya, there are no profits from the sale of the bag. She says the company breaks even.
To find out where you can purchase the bags, check out her website for details.