I AM NOT A PLASTIC BAG by anya hindmarch

The "IT" bag that everyone wants a piece of. If u are not aware of what exactly makes this bag soooo in demand. Well, it is from anya hindmarch . A high end luxury brand that decides to create a bag that helps send a message "SAY NO TO plastic bags".

Here's all the info u need about this bag from the anya hindmarch website:

I’m Not A Plastic Bag is a reusable bag that can be used for shopping, the gym, the beach, school etc. Anya is trying to use her influence in a positive way to make it fashionable not to use plastic bags, to raise awareness of this issue and to encourage people to make small changes in their behaviour. I’m Not A Plastic Bag is made in China. They have worked with a reputable supplier there whose workers are paid double the minimum wage and who complies with all aspects of Chinese Labour Law. The factory also retains external consultants to monitor it from an international standards standpoint.The bag is a stylish, practical reusable alternative that she hoped would raise awareness of the issue of wasted packaging and spark debate. They have shipped the bags by sea and carbon offset the production and freight through the purchase of carbon credits.

Overwhelmed by the world’s response to this project and inundated with requests to take this bag available to a wider international audience. The UK bag was priced at £5. This price meant that Anya Hindmarch and all launch partners have not been covering their costs. However, in order to launch the bag more widely & internationally, they had to make it cover it’s costs & ensure that no party loses money. The price for the next launches therefore, will be £7.50 (or the local equivalent). They also hope that the international launches will spark the same awareness and debate that they have provoked in the UK and encourage people to reuse, reduce and recycle! At this present time no more UK bags are planned. There will be some more brown bags available through Corso Como in Milan & Brown Thomas in Ireland in July.

When they started working on this project two years ago they had no idea that there would be so much demand for this bag. They did not anticipate these bags selling out so quickly in the UK. This project was only ever intended to be a limited edition project. There will be further limited edition launches in other countries this summer. It is inevitable that some customers are attracted to this product because it is an Anya Hindmarch Bag for a low price point. Anya's view is that whatever the reason is for customers carrying this bag they are still conveying an important message. The bag is designed to be a practical and stylish alternative to plastic bags that they hope that customers will reuse. It is surprising how many plastic bags you start to refuse on your daily shopping trips when you are carrying a reusable bag and surprising how many people are influenced by the walking billboard that is Anya's bag!

The bags appeared on e-bay but then they realised that this is to be expected when there is so little stock and so much demand and this has led to creating more awareness which was the purpose of this project. Unfortunately they have no control over bags appearing on eBay. Please note that this bag is not a charity project so charities are not losing out. Whatever that is, these bags are selling like hot cakes everywhere. In the US and UK it sold out like 2 hours after launch. In malaysia today: lets here my part of the story.

THIS BAG COST ONLY RM55 here back in malaysia. MAN!! I tell u those ppl here are crazy over it. It was only on sale at the anya hindmarch branch in KLCC today on a first come first serve basis. Genuis me! I was thinking that malaysians won't be that crazy over some 55 bugs bag, and clearly it proved me wrong. I reached KLCC at 7.30 a.m and there was huge crowd ahead lining up . I was around the 420th when I got there. Can u imagine how early those ppl in front got up. They have been waiting for klcc to open at 6a.m and then rushed in to queue at the 1st floor. As u know, stores only open at 10.am. So, that means all those lining up haveta wait from 5.30a.m the earliest all the way till 10 a.m . There were broadcasters from NTV7 and all other medias . As for me, I waited from 7.30 a.m till around 12.pm and then half way through ,the store assistant announced that they are OUT OF BAGS! SOLD OUT! Those ppl infront of the line was shouting and screaming.. cursing . Pity them , they reached at 6.30 and they still could'nt get the bag. I was a bit relieved that at least I got cut out in the middle of the line rather than getting cut out in front of the line . Can u imagine what's the feeling knowing that you gonna get ur turn to grab one of those bags after a few more ppl and then they just announce SOLD OUT. I will be friggin pissed.

Anyways those ppl, in front went berserk and started a riot, kickin the barriers and cursing. One thing I haveta bring up here, is that the store management on this huge event really SUCK. Customers were not told or informed about the amount of bags they will be selling out and the store staffs just let the crowd stretch up to 1500 while they have only 200-250 bags on sale. After much shouting, screaming and cursing, the securities were very tight around the stores, those staffs finally came out to apologize that they did not have enuf bags. DAMM DUMB, is not about whether u have enuf bags or not, is the fact that u should know that u have less that 250 bags and still let the queue stretch till 1500. The reason they gave is that, they did'nt know how many bags they were selling.

Apparently we the customers felt that they purposely refuse to make a statement of the number of bags so that more ppl would turn up. Free publicity. Then staffs make a statement that that they have no such intention of using us to publicise the store, that this situation happens in all regions that are selling this bag. Thank god, there was one customer that fought back he claimed that he came all the way back from UK and that the branch in UK did actually give out numbers to ppl (numbering) who are queuing and that ppl actually are notified about the amount of bags available on sale. Unlike the situation here, ppl actually take a day leave from their work and came all the way down at 6.30 to queue. C'MON, they should at least have the decency to tell us when they open the store at 10 a.m that they have only 200 bags available and let those ppl at the back get back to their business, instead of giving us hope and wasting our time waiting. We felt like IDIOTS. PISSED!!! Those ppl in front was about to break the glass to snag the sample bag on display if it was'nt for the securities.

TOO MUCH mann!! those staffs were terrified, they just off the lights and shut the doors. WHAT THE F? is that how u handle this kinda situation. SERIOUSLY? WHAT KINDA MANAGEMENT IS THAT? Earlier during the riot one of the staff actually accuse us the customers that we were actually told not to queue but we insisted on lining up. AGAIN!! WHAT THE F? use u're effing brains man.. y would we queue if u have told us that we would not make it to buy the bag. DO U THINK WE HAVE nothing better to do? They should have just be a bit more clear cut about the amount of bags instead of making us guess. Apparently some ppl, where told they were 1000 bags available. TURNS out less than 250 and they gave some lame excuse like some are for reservations. PLS CUT THE CRAP! and just say u handle the situation badly and apologize for god sakes, instead of giving crap reasons and accusing customers for being stubborn for lining up. VERY BAD MANAGEMENT!!!!

Ok back to the real reason malaysians go gaga over this bag. Do u actually believe that we will get the bag for the sake of the environment. HAHA ppl here are queing like crazy just because this bag is all around HOLLYWOOD. Its the official goodie bag for this year's OSCAR VANITY FAIR party.

Spotted on keira knightly

spotted on Petra Nemocova

So, its sold out MALAYSIA. Wherever u are now, just check out the launch date for ur country. Its available in different word colours in different countries. IN the US, the words are in blue. next launch is in JAPAN, words are green there. Then i think is jakarta and then China (beijing and shanghai). Last stop, i think is singapore on 18th of august. Go check out http://www.anyahindmarch.com/division/environmental_bags.aspx for more info. Ohh and since is a limited edition. ONE person is allowed to grab ONE only. That's y today those aunties drag their kids around the queue, so that they could buy one extra. If u're not all gaga over this bag, well if u have the time to queue just grab one and sell it off later. Someone offered me 400 bucks if I got the bag. Its just a 55 ringgit cotton made bag! Talk about desperate measures.