Bloomingdale’s has made a major blunder with its new Little Pink Bag, one of many pink products sold during Breast Cancer Awareness month.
It might seem unfair to point fingers at an accessory that’s doing good. I appreciate that a percentage of the sales goes to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, although donating just $2 from the bag’s $22.60 cost seems a little stingy. At least it’s something. I also appreciate the tote’s witty slogan, a play on the now famous Little Black Dress. And I can also tip my hat at its local manufacturing. With so many accessories being made offshore, it’s exciting to see Bloomie’s supporting local industry.
But the biggest problem here is the material. We wouldn’t expect leather for the price, but using polyvinyl chloride, or PVC as it’s commonly known, is a real faux pas. It’s well known that this material leaches plasticizers called phthalates into the atmosphere. These nasties have been linked to a host of problems including asthma, liver and kidney disease, and physical and neurological complications for babies exposed in utero. The PVC might not cause cancer, but attempting to eradicate one condition by exposing people to others seems crazy.
It’s easy to get sucked in by all the pink products we see during October, but it’s worth really thinking before we decide which ones to support.
