'It is clearly unacceptable': Woolworths’ warning over designer item as history repeats

Woolworths latest designer shopping bag collaboration is about to sell out, with customers scrambling to snap one up before they disappear for good.

The bag, a smaller size of the Universal Bag designed by Anya Hindmarch, is even being resold on eBay at a bold markup.

It was released earlier this year and is called the Mini Universal Bag.

The new size proved popular with supermarket shoppers, who snapped them up at a much faster rate than the original Universal Bag released in March 2025.

This latest iteration costs just $15, whereas the original was priced at $20.

A spokesperson for Woolworths told nine.com.au it is "literally flying off shelves".

"They're selling faster than the original bag launch we did last year, with thousands more selling in the first week compared to the larger bag," they said.

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"There's still some stock available, but we're encouraging people to get them now before they run out as they're only a limited edition product."

This new bag is compact, and comes in two colours – green and charcoal.

It has been stocked at over 400 Woolworths stores across the country since the start of the month, with some locations having already sold out.

The bag has been particularly popular at metro stores, where shoppers typically do their grocery shopping over several weekly visits rather than a single, larger shop, as is seen in the suburbs.

"Our customers absolutely loved the bag we launched last year in collaboration with Anya's team, and it's wonderful to still see them being used in our aisles every day," Rhonda Ma, Category Manager at Woolworths, told nine.com.au upon its release.

"This new mini version offers something different again.

"It's a great size for a quick shop, a chic lunch tote, or even a stylish way to carry your tech.

"If last year's frenzy was anything to go by, we encourage people to get in early so they don't miss out."

In 2025, the original Universal Bag was so popular it was being resold on eBay at a huge markup.

eBay was flooded with customers attempting to sell the $20 creations for more than double the cost, with one listing $50.43 as the "Buy Now" price.

The same has happen for the Mini Universal Bag, with one listing now up to $29.95, a profit of $14.95.

This seller has eight of the bags left, and the listing has been viewed 21 times today alone.

"We are aware of the unauthorised resale of the Anya Hindmarch Universal Bag," a Woolworths spokesperson told nine.com.au when this first happened in 2025.

"We do not encourage the resale of these items. It is clearly unacceptable and does not meet our expectations, and those of the wider community."

The Universal Bag is an eco-friendly bag and is the work of British designer Anya Hindmarch, who collaborated with the supermarket chain for the exclusive design.

The bag is a tote-style creation that comes in both green and blue.

It is stylish, robust and folds easily to fit into handbags and backpacks for use during grocery shopping trips.

Hindmarch said she hoped the collaboration would inspire customers to rethink their use of single-use bags.

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