The Hidden Gem in Your Attic That’s Worth Bringing Back
July 23, 2024
Source: Reddit
Do you recall how in the past we would get back from shopping with groceries and have our hands filled with those plastic bags that made a crinkling sound? These would be crammed into a drawer or hidden under the sink and then, when looking for one, we would be met with a snowball of bags. Here comes the faithful plastic grocery bag holder, a completely ordinary, yet extremely helpful item that many of us must remember from our childhood homes.
When I step into my grandmother’s kitchen, even now I can see the wooden bag holder hanging on the wall. He had a wooden coat stand, which was honey colored and had a long cut in the center of the front part. We would have bags and pour them into the top and then they would spill out at the bottom of the machine, as kids we loved it. It wasn’t a mere utility item; it was a part of the routine she performs every day in her kitchen, to create a home-like feel.
These holders gained a lot of popularity in the 1980s and the 1990s as a solution to the problem of plastic Carrier bags from Supermarkets. Before the concept of totes that can be used over and over again, reusing of plastic bags was the next best thing. The bag holder was another common household item for the use of keeping and using bags for small trash cans, as well as for toting lunch.
The ordinary bag holder is just a representation of current society. When large hypermarkets appeared, and plastic packaging was used for virtually every product, people required a solution to the storage issue. These holders were often made at home, and it was poignant that a cultural movement which was so recognised for its togetherness was based on the individual creating something for themselves. Some of the objects also act as a complement to the idea of reusing and recycling that has become famous in the recent past due to the zero-waste campaign.
The design of these bag holders is rather straightforward and, you have to admit, rather efficient. These are usually made of wood though some are made of fabric and they are quite colorful with interesting patterns or painted. The top of the design has a large pocket for storing items, while the bottom has a small cut for quickly removing one from the bunch. The frontal full-length splits represent not only how much the holder has inside, but also enhance the holder’s cute and practical look.
In today’s era of fighting against the utilization of single-use plastics, the grocery bag holder may look prehistoric. But, the charm and usability has not faded away and thus remains popular. Regardless of the fact that it is used to store reusable bags or merely for the purpose of using it as a piece of home decor, this item adds a bit of a retro feel to the present era.
Thus, the next time you are going through your parents’ attic or shopping in a vintage store, try to find one of these timeless bag supports. Not only are they a fun way to get back to basics, but they also provide a purpose that can span generations. Such pieces make us recall the importance of the past and the logic that existed in simple and creative solutions.
It is rather inspiring to keep such minor, yet meaningful parts of our history in the world where everything is in the process of changing. They are a wakeup call to the past when life was not as fast-paced, not as subtractive, and much more about the details of life.