Shopping trolleys: the new must-have accessory
Sales are soaring as new designs help shed that old-fashioned image
Shopping trolleys have been given a "complete makeover" and are finding new fans among a younger audience.
They used to be "associated with elderly women who wheeled the drab yet practical accessories around town", said the Daily Mail. But these bags on wheels have "come a long way from the bulky tartan shoppers seen trundling down high streets decades ago", said The Guardian.
Many newer trolleys "combine lightweight, waterproof materials with stylish design", including foldable frames and, "in a godsend for people who live in top-floor flats", stair-climber designs.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"Fancier versions", boasting limited-edition fabrics and customisable bag, frame and wheel colours, can cost several hundred pounds. However, a "smart entry-level model in Argos or Ikea" only will set you back about £25.
Their surprising resurgence as a must-have accessory forms part of a wider style trend towards "embracing 'nanna glamour' for its combination of "high fashion with comfort and convenience for a modern, eccentric look".
Roshni Chauhan, a buyer for John Lewis, told The Telegraph that the latest generation of trolleys had helped "shake the 'fuddy' image". The store said that sales had risen by nearly 80% over the past six months, compared with the same period in 2023, with the "high level of interest prompting it to increase the number of styles it stocked", said The Guardian.
Converts praise them as a "trendy and sustainable alternative to carrier bags", said the Mail, allowing shoppers to transport larger loads without risking back strain.
Younger people are also more attuned to the potential physical impact of carrying heavy bags, Matthew Murray-Downing, a physiotherapist who works with British Gymnastics, told The Telegraph. "My generation were perhaps more 'fashion over function'," he said, but younger people now are more "evidence-driven".
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Adrienne Wyper has been a freelance sub-editor and writer for The Week's website and magazine since 2015. As a travel and lifestyle journalist, she has also written and edited for other titles including BBC Countryfile, British Travel Journal, Coast, Country Living, Country Walking, Good Housekeeping, The Independent, The Lady and Woman’s Own.
-
Turkey halts trade with Israel in latest Gaza rift
Speed Read The country plans to join South Africa's genocide case against Israel
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - May 3, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - tea or coffee, a bitter brew, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Biden tackles campus protests, deplores 'chaos'
Speed Read Students have a "right to protest but not a right to cause chaos," the president said
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
8 small travel essentials that make a big difference
The Week Recommends Foot hammocks and facial sprays add comfort to long flights
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 packing cube sets that make unpacking a breeze
The Week Recommends Save time and maximize luggage space
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
7 refreshing sheet masks to use post-travel
The Week Recommends Show your skin some love following a long-haul flight or road trip
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
8 stylish passport cases you should not leave home without
The Week Recommends Give TSA something to talk about with these bold covers
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
The Stanley tumbler craze is far more than a viral trend run amok
In The Spotlight The USA is doing what it does best
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
7 essential travel bags for every kind of voyager
The Week Recommends Including a pickpocket-proof cross-body bag and a smart backpack with USB charging
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
6 great walking shoes that will take you anywhere you need to go
The Week Recommends Put your best foot forward in these kicks
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
6 inventive products that make traveling easier
The Week Recommends Pack these in your carry-on for a seamless vacation
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published