In a few weeks, Steven Swain will make his annual pilgrimage to New York from Rocky Mount, Va., to visit the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center and see the holiday window displays at Macy's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York.He's also planning to bring back some prized souvenirs: the 2008 crop of holiday shopping bags. "They are small instances of good design," says the 33-year-old building-permit coordinator, who says he has been collecting shopping bags "in earnest" for 15 years.
He and legions of other collectors have been anxiously awaiting the latest vintage, and they won't be disappointed. Keeping up traditions despite the economic downturn, retailers are gallantly handing out fancy shopping bags again this year. Bloomingdale's bag features a watercolor rendition of the chain's New York flagship store, created by crooner Tony Bennett.
At Saks, the bags are emblazoned with drawings of snowflakes by the artist Marian Bantjes. Barneys New York's shopping bags feature New York artist John-Paul Philippe's drawings of doves, ornaments, snowflakes and peace signs, along with a photo of the Volkswagen Beetle he decorated for the retailer's "Peace + Love: Have a Hippie Holiday" campaign.
Going green is a big holiday retail theme this year -- and one that tends to run counter to the whole idea of shopping bags. And so Nordstrom and Macy's are offering their first completely recyclable holiday bags this year. Barneys says its bags use environmentally friendly, soy-based ink.
Going green is a big holiday retail theme this year -- and one that tends to run counter to the whole idea of shopping bags. And so Nordstrom and Macy's are offering their first completely recyclable holiday bags this year. Barneys says its bags use environmentally friendly, soy-based ink.
Call me the optimistic one here at the BRAG office, because I think some people shop just to get cool bags....tell us your thoughts on the bags
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