Greeting card publishing and gift company, Caroline Gardner lent its hand to designing a jute charity shopper for Waitrose and has sold 10,000 units, raising significant sums for Meningitis Now.
The Caroline Gardner x Meningitis Now jute/cotton bag design was inspired by one of Caroline’s designs for the SS18 collection, called Green Dreamer. The fun abstract floral print on the shopper is complemented by the bold orange stripe in the gusset which can double up as beach bag too.
The bag went on sale in Waitrose in February for £5 with 50p from every sale going to Meningitis Now. Luca Bridges, senior sales and marketing coordinator of Caroline Gardner said that the collaboration “has been a real success, with around 10,000 bags sold so far and we are absolutely delighted.”
Meningitis Now is a cause very close to Caroline Gardner’s heart. Founders Caroline and Angus Gardner chose the charity 15 years ago, having had a personal experience with the illness when their then six-month-old son, Sebastian contracted Meningococcal Septicaemia. Thankfully he recovered and the family looked to help raise awareness through fund raising on behalf of Meningitis Now.
During that time Caroline Gardner has also raised over £100,000 for the charity through the sale of Caroline Gardner Christmas cards.
The creative maestro and namesake of the company, Caroline said: “We are so pleased to have been able to help bring this bag to the market. Meningitis Now is a fabulous charity and I feel sure that the new Green Dreamer print will help build upon the success that these fabulous reusable bags enjoy in Waitrose.”
Although it is still early days, there are plans in the pipeline to do another bag for Waitrose next year.