Marks and Spencer shoppers have been rushing to get their hands on a 60p bargain item that's apparently been "flying off shelves".
Following its release on Monday, January 9, the product is proving to be hugely popular, with over 10,000 shoppers reportedly flocking to their nearest store to pick it up.
The brand new "must have" is a new carrier bag with an updated design, straying away from the solid green colour that's been the norm for years.
Manchester Evening News reports that M&S Food has teamed up with London-based Black artist Yinka Ilori to create a new stylish and durable carrier bag that costs 60p to buy.
At the start of his design career, the artist used to work at M&S himself for eight years, which inspired him to create the new bag design.
He's currently got an exhibition 'Parables of Happiness' on display at the London Design Museum, where his old name badge is on show.
And now he's joined up with the retailer to create the first launch of an ongoing collaboration inspired by his previous years working there.
The bright and bold design will appear on a new carrier bag - which is available in-store from this week and made from 100% recycled plastic – including plastic from M&S’ stores. It can hold up to 15kg and is also fully recyclable.
A second bag, featuring another design, is set to launch later this year. Talking about the bag, Yinka said: "I have great memories of my time at M&S while trying to set up my own studio. To be starting a new partnership with such a British icon feels a bit like coming home! It was a time in my life where I was dreaming up a lot of designs and ideas and I wanted to use those memories as the basis for these new artworks – encouraging everyone to keep dreaming.
"My artworks are all about evoking joy and optimism through bold colours - even a carrier bag can do that! If something makes you smile, you’ll want to keep using it again and again.
"Hopefully these colours and patterns will bring a bit of joy to people’s day and inspire them to keep dreaming and keep reusing them. With any collaboration, longevity is hugely important to me. I want to create pieces that can be reused again and again and make the most of pre-loved materials so it’s great that this bag is made using plastic from M&S’ own stores.
"Customers are absolutely loving the new design already – since the bag launched across Foodhalls on Monday morning M&S has sold over 10,000. Not only is the new bag more colourful and more joyful – it’s also more durable! We all need to reuse more and although 80% of our customers already bring their own bags when shopping with us, we know how easy it is to forget.
"For those that do, our new Yinka Ilori designed carrier bag offers a more durable, long-term option with a pattern you can’t miss, that everyone will want to be seen with. Keep your eyes peeled for the second bag later this year!"
M&S also encourages shoppers to reuse by offering a 25p discount on cafe drinks when you bring your own cup, and in-store at their Market place counters for those who being a reusable container.
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