Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.
Keeping on top of trends can be risky; their short lifespans rarely justify the price tags attached. So when a budget-friendly trend comes along — like those Carhartt beanies, nylon chokers, or bandanas — you might as well take advantage of the opportunity and try it out. The latest popular steal? The fisherman’s net bag, which can be yours for a cool $16 (or less).
The crocheted cotton bags, known as filet (pronounced FEE-lay) in their native France, were initially made for fishermen. Because they can stretch to fit pretty much whatever you put inside, the lightweight bags became popular in the ’60s and ’70s as market totes for bringing home fresh produce and baguettes. They’re great because they hold a lot, sit comfortably on the shoulder, and compact to almost nothing when you’re not using them.
You can find filet bags in a variety of shops in the US (and all over Instagram), but we recommend seeking out Filt, a French company that sells a huge assortment of colors, from bold solids to all-over rainbow, for $16. If you’re just looking for the natural color, then check out this version I scooped up from Yingku on Amazon: It’ll set you back just $8, or you can opt for a set of three for $15 here.
Regardless of how much you spend or where you buy from, the best part about this trend is that when it dies down (which it will, because they always do) you won’t have any financial regrets — just a really cute grocery bag.