Balik-’bayong’ – the comeback of reusable bags
The newest fashion statement in the Philippines? BAYONG!
Yup, the ‘bayong’ is back!
EcoWaste Coalition started the campaign to encourage people back to the tradition of bringing their own bags when they do groceries. (Oh, I still remember the days when we did go to the wet market using these bags.)
Big supermarkets and department stores soon caught on the trend. Now, SM Supermarket has its own green bag given away for free to customers who spend more than P500 on Unilever products. Rustan’s sells its own bag, so do several trendy bookstores like The Bound Bookshop. In fact, other eco-conscious stores started selling reusable bags, such as this “I am Not Plastic” muslin shopping carry-all.
In fact, the fashion runway got in on the trend too, with these Louis Vitton reusable ’shopping’ bags that are very popular in HongKong and balik-bayans travelling back and forth from Hongkong.
Apparently, Marc Jacobs designed these tote bags that made fans out of celebrities Reese Witherspoon, Eva Longoria, Vanessa Minnillo, Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and many others. Check it out – doesn’t it look like your mother’s ’sako pam-palengke’?
Monica calls these bags “sakonite” for “sako” (plastic) and (Samso)nite.
Good enough to use for the palengke right? 
[source: suncorp; counterfeitchic]
[image:bayong]
Tags: bayong, reusable bag, plastic, tote bag, Louis Vitton, bag, environment, awareness, not plastic, Philippines
8 Comments
i wish this green movement continues… lets not waste our time to discover things that can help our mother nature….
People also did recently go nuts over Anya Hindmarch’s “I am not a plastic bag” design that came out the other week.
So, what exactly is a “muslim shopping carry-all?” Is there such a thing as a halal shopping bag?
Hi Elijah, that was a typo. Thanks for pointing it out. Already fixed.
Hi Wysgal,
That Anya Hindmarch bag sold out quickly! I’m glad reusable bags are becoming a cool accessory these days.
Hi! I like that trend! definitely make our mother Earth smile
Exactly the way I wanted just hoping that this trend be IMPOSED in the palengke coz some people are not aware and doesn’t care bout environmental issues! SM should not sell it but should give it free to all its customers to eradicate totally SM plastic bags.
lets fight climate change. dream green, discuss green, act green.
ahem….
“i wish this green movement continues… lets not waste _____________our time to discover things that can help our mother nature….”
please insert in the space : and use …
philippine travel blog ka pa man din.