When I use my string bag, I feel like I’m doing a magic trick. On its off days, it is usually with me, tucked inside of my primary bag for the day. When I pull it out, I feel like I’m doing a scarf out of a hat routine. When it’s full and hanging on my shoulder with my notebook, water bottle and other random bits and bobbles inside, I feel like it’s a levitation act and an answer to a question “what’s in her bag?” before it’s even asked. When I put groceries in it at the self checkout, I feel as if I am pulling off an enchanted stunt when I’m able to fit everything that I purchased (including all the treats and random extras) in one bag.
Okay, so it feels like magic but it’s in fact structural science that makes the bag so powerful. The weave of the bag is part of the trick. Because the weave is so open, it also leaves room for the bag to grow and expand and hold up to 40 lbs. It’s a modern marvel to behold because I have pushed my bag to the limits with heavy loads of VHS tapes, books and frozen pizzas and it held everything…and then some!
In a world of seemingly endless tote bags it might seem like a string bag is just another bag to end up at the back of your closet or dangling on the door knob. I’m here to say that if it’s not for you, that’s fine! A new bag should fit in with your needs and lifestyle. But if you keep forgetting your bags when you go shopping and are in need of a magic trick, the string bag might just be the grand finale to your sustainable day.
And speaking of bags…
If you’ve been in the shop recently, you may have noticed our Take a Bag, Leave a Bag wall (or TABLAB for short) right inside the front door. The program is really as simple as the name says: take a tote bag when you need one, leave a tote bag when you have extras. It’s like a Little Free Library but for shopping bags! I’ve loved seeing all of the people totally jazzed to have a new or gently used bag to take home with them and all of the people generous enough to donate extra totes from their collections.
Totingly yours,
Hanna
