Once-mundane supermarket carrier bags are gaining popularity as nostalgic collectibles on secondhand marketplaces.
Key facts
- •Resale sites like Vinted and eBay are listing vintage supermarket bags for around £10.
- •The Paper Bag Archive, established in 2020, contains more than 3,500 bags.
- •Aries is releasing a £90 leather tote bag modeled after the classic M&S St Michael carrier on August 20.
- •Supermarket plastic bag sales in the UK fell by 98% by 2023 following the 2015 introduction of a mandatory charge.
- •Vinted reported a 35% increase in searches for these bags in 2026 compared to the previous year.
Old supermarket carrier bags from brands like Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Waitrose are increasingly appearing on resale platforms such as eBay, Vinted, and Depop. These items, once distributed for free, are now selling for approximately £10 each. The trend reflects a growing interest in tangible, nostalgic objects that serve as symbols of social history.
By the numbers
Nostalgia and Market Trends
Collectors and experts suggest that these bags evoke memories of childhood and everyday life. Tim Sumner, who founded the Paper Bag Archive in 2020, currently holds a collection of over 3,500 bags. Meanwhile, the Instagram account 'Carry a Bag Man' has amassed more than 15,000 followers, and Vinted reports a 35% increase in searches for these items in 2026 compared to the previous year.
M&S and Streetwear Collaborations
The Marks & Spencer 'St Michael' branding, which appeared on products from 1928 to 2000, has become a focal point for this trend. The streetwear label Aries is launching a collaboration with M&S on August 20, featuring a £90 leather tote bag designed to resemble the classic St Michael carrier. Designers involved in the project cite the brand's cultural relevance and its role in British family life as inspiration.
Shift Away from Single-Use Plastics
The rise of collectible bags coincides with a broader decline in single-use plastic bags, which were phased out in UK supermarkets following a mandatory government charge introduced in 2015. By 2023, supermarket plastic bag sales had dropped by 98%. In the current market, other branded canvas bags, such as those from Trader Joe’s, have also gained status as fashion accessories.
Timeline
- 1928–2000The St Michael label was used on M&S products.
- 200780,000 people queued to purchase Anya Hindmarch’s 'I am not a plastic bag' tote.
- 2015Single-use plastic bags were phased out at supermarkets via a mandatory government charge.
- 2020Tim Sumner established the Paper Bag Archive.
- 20 AugustThe Aries and M&S collaboration collection is scheduled to arrive.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Guardian Fashion.
