Shopping smarter…
When you don’t own a car,
shopping is a risky business. Your eyes are usually bigger than your biceps,
and you risk spraining a wrist on the long walk home. At times like these a
pushchair becomes not a burden but a  blessing, doubling up as a handy trolley.
Alas my son’s pushchair days are almost over, so I’m going to have to find
another way to transport bits and bobs. I do sometimes nip to the shops with
the pushchair sans toddler, but tiring of the “Hey, you forgot your baby!” jokes. Besides, it’s really not a
good look.
So now I'm planning my transformation into 21st-century trolley dolly. Shopping
trolleys used to rank just a smidge above Zimmer frames in the fashion stakes,
but now trolleys  are going trendy – amazing what a little splash of colour can
do. If these smart shoppers get people walking to the high street instead of
driving to out-of-town superstores, it’s worth it (organic cotton or not).
The pink Orbita, £62 (top), and psychedelic PSICO, £70 (right) from Rolser are the opposite of wallflowers and make a loud, proud fashion
statement. 
If
you're a label lover, it may take a designer trolley to prise you out of your car. This one's in signature Orla Kiely
style, £200, in brown, red or blue.
If you still think trolleys are more spinster
than hipster, the collapsible Hook and Go by DeWeNe (Designs We Need) 
might convince you. It's £45 for the frame, and the certified organic bags are £17 for four.
It’ll certainly attract attention. It can carry eight full bags (32 kilos) and nothing gets
squashed. Result!
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Shopping less...
If you’re getting an organic farm box  each
week (or even growing your own ), your shopping bags won't be quite so heavy, so you might choose bag lady over trolley dolly.
These tempting totes are so cute you won’t mind carrying them every day, so you won’t get caught out
and end up with a plastic bag (and a red face).
Instead of a carrier bag, try a Carry-a-Bag, a trendy
tote you can carry off with pride. The lined bags are handmade in Hastings,  reversible
and and lined with recycled vintage home furnishing fabrics such as
tablecloths or curtains. Every bag is unique and there’s even one for
the boys. ‘Time to save the Planet, Dudes’, £20 (left) is made from
organic fairtrade calico
lined with vintage Superman comic fabric circa 1978. Ladies may prefer
the 'Luscious Linen' bag, £45 (above), made from pristine vintage
upholstery fabric by Sandersons, and lined with organic calico.
Kat Boon combines the finest cotton,
silk, leather and suede with vintage textiles to create chic home accessories. She even does commissions,
if you have some fabric you want to bring back to life. Her 100% recycled tote bags
are a pleasure to carry. Try this 'Kitsch Kitchen' tote with a quirky 60s print, £20.
If you're not one to mince words, carry this
brazen bag, £20, from Marissa Vanderzee
Marissa uses natural fabrics  sourced in England, Northern Ireland and Italy and
makes the bags in the UK.
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The Green Pound 