Saturday, May 23, 2009
Shopping Bags as Art?
photograph courtesy of Canadian House & Home
On Tuesday one of my favorite blogs Style Redux had a post (see HERE) on upcycling shopping bags as art work. While reading Canadian House & Home's special issue on Condos, Lofts & Apartments (which I found at my local Borders earlier this week while stocking up on reading material for the long weekend), I spied yet another example of shopping bags-turned-art in the guest room of a chic and feminine Toronto penthouse.
While certain high end shopping retailers and designers undeniably produce some outstanding packaging (I can think of few businesses that have managed to brand themselves better than, say, Tiffany's), I can't help but think this is the home decor equivalent of wearing a Gucci logo t-shirt; in other words, it's brand over style. Ultimately though, the question of whether we are attracted to the beauty/value of the thing itself or just what store it comes from it may be a bit like asking if the chicken or the egg came first. I just can't say unequivocally that Chanel No. 5 would smell as sweet if it were called by any other name and sold at CVS.
On the other hand, maybe I'm just overthinking this. After all, I do like the idea of reusing these admittedly attractive bags and framing them as art -- especially in a dressing room or large closet, should you be so lucky to have either -- rather than simply throwing them away. And maybe I should just leave it at that. Since I'd love your thoughts on the matter, I'll open this up to a vote.
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9 comments:
I like this idea in a dressing room or private bath or other area guests wouldn't see - it would be whimsical and fun. But it would be absolutely awful in a living room or somewhere. Imagine! Why not just frame money?
Thanks for the mention. I thinks it's a darling idea for a dressing room or walk-in closet. I, for example, have converted an unused bedroom into a walk-in closet. It would be very chic in there. Other rooms, not so much.
I have an idea-- frame the receipt from that time you splurged at Chanel or Burberry or whatever! That would be some statement. ;-) (Can you tell how I voted?)
Hahahah..."frame money!" That's hilarious! But if someone's conspicuous consumption can keep even one little bag out of the landfill, then I'm happy!
I have a bag from the Metropolitan Museum of Art framed and hanging in our guest room/study! So I obviously voted accordingly :)
Averill, I think it's so interesting that you have 28 votes but only 4 comments before me!
I've never heard of Style Redux - so I'm heading there next.
My first thought when I read this post was oh how cute! I once (and only once) shopped at Neiman Marcus... and I did reuse that bag as long as possible...because it was so pretty - covered in colorful butterflies! - and because it said Neiman Marcus...so yes, I like this idea for art for a dressing room or even a powder room!
my vote is to doit only in certain areas. Some bags are just too precious to throw away:)
This is really cool! I have a big collection of shopping bags from all sorts of stores, and I think framing them as "art" would not only save money on home decorations--we could also create art out of them and sell them as a home business!
I never want to throw away "great" bags - designer or not... Think there's something to this idea. Hmmm....
Great commentary, BTW!
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