Amid attempts to ban or restrict plastic bags, a famous designer has made one into a fashion statement. Whether by design or intention, French haute couture house Balenciaga’s new “Arena Extra-Large Shopper Tote Bag” for men, with a price tag of USD 2,148, bears an uncanny resemblance to a much cheaper tote, Swedish furniture giant Ikea’s iconic “Frakta” bag costing under a dollar, euro, pound or franc.

While it’s often said that high fashion lives from understatement, there’s another reason for the price difference in the virtually interchangeable blue bags. Balenciaga’s crinkly neon-blue bag is handcrafted from pricey calves’ leather, while Ikea’s is mass-produced from robust PP. Oh, and the Balenciaga bag sports gold handles, and the Ikea bag’s are yellow. In any case, the French company’s creative director Demna Gvasalia seems to have an egalitarian touch and a heart for consumers with more taste than money, to quote one of the furniture store's famous advertising slogans. The 36-year-old also has designed a scarf that wags say closely resembles an Aldi bag.