“The first cultural device was probably a recipient. Many theorizers feel that the earliest cultural inventions must have been a container to hold gathered products and some kind of sling or net carrier.”

Ursula K. Le Guin

"The Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction"

Who isn’t familiar with the unassuming red-white-blue PVC bag adorned with its timeless checkered or striped pattern? Cheap, practical, and versatile, it’s a reliable companion for anyone on the move or in need of transporting their belongings. But can a bag be more than just a mundane accessory?

The red-white-blue bag became a symbol of migration, carrying with it the hopes, dreams, and uncertainties of those who leave for various reasons their home country. Known all around the globe but under different names (expressing anxieties towards relocated immigrant groups in the country of arrival): Slavic Bag or Türken Koffer in Austria, Russian Bag in Poland,
Bangladeshi Bag in the UK, Ghana Bag in Nigeria, Zimbabwe Bag in South Africa. For many it is also associated with the fall of the Soviet Union, with war, broken lives and economic collapse. Others connect it with shopping at nearby markets or bazaars, with informal economy, trading across-border and the struggle to make a living. More recently this 2 euro bag has been absurdly introduced into the luxury fashion industry by brands like Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton.