The £1,680 blue designer bag that bears an uncanny resemblance to Ikea’s 40p carrier
MADE of blue ‘glazed leather’ and costing an eye-watering £1,680, it is meant to be the height of luxury.
But this bag by top French brand Balenciaga may look a tad familiar to millions of shoppers.
For fashion fans have spotted it bears an unmistakable resemblance to a 40p Ikea carrier bag. The luxury bag is almost identical in size, shape and colour to the Swedish furniture store’s large ‘Frakta’ bag – which is known for being cheap and durable – and even has a similar double strap.
For the price of one of the designer leather bags – called an Arena extralarge shopper tote bag – you could snap up 4,200 Ikea bags, which are made from 100 per cent polypropylene, a recyclable material.
Fashion fans have expressed amazement at Balenciaga’s design choice. And even Ikea chiefs have admitted the Arena tote, which is made in Italy, bears a ‘striking resemblance’ to its carrier bags. Stella Monteiro, of Ikea, said: ‘We are extremely flattered to seemingly be an inspiration for the latest catwalk designs for Balenciaga.
‘Our Ikea Frakta tote is one of our most popular products which are already owned and loved by millions – now many people truly can get the designer look for less.’
Ikea’s website says the Frakta bag is ‘easy to keep clean – just rinse and dry’, and ‘also suitable for waste sorting’. It is 14in tall, 22in long and can hold up to 25kg in weight. Balenciaga’s bag is 14.5in long and 32in high.
The fashion house did not respond to requests for comment last night.