Sun Jellies Relaunches Its Classic — And Awesomely ’80s— Jelly Bag
Little girls nowadays have a plethora of footwear options — light-up sneakers, sparkly ballerina flats, stylish gladiator sandals, and so forth — but those of us who came of age in the ’80s fondly remember fisherman-style jelly sandals as being the definitive go-to spring and summer shoe. Like scratch-and-sniff stickers, Rainbow Brite toys, My Little Pony figures, leg warmers, Easy-Bake ovens, Cabbage Patch dolls, Fashion Plates kits, scrunchies, and Punky Brewster episodes, they remind ’80s babies about those carefree childhood years. And, while some of the aforementioned items eventually fell out of favor, jelly sandals remain relevant in contemporary culture. Little girls still love the bright colors of the sandals’ translucent straps, while their moms appreciate that the shoes are cute, comfortable, sturdy, and easy to clean. As plastic and rubber have gained more popularity within the women’s footwear realm — largely thanks to brands like Melissa Shoes — jelly sandals are even appearing in women’s sizes, some featuring chunky platform heels for a cheeky and grown-up twist, others reinvented as T-strap or gladiator styles.
If you’re overcome by nostalgia every time you see a classic pair of jellies, you’ll swoon over this bit of news: Sun Jellies, the brand that introduced the first jelly sandal back in 1946, has re-launched the classic jelly bag it first unveiled in the 1980s. Made of 100% recyclable soft jelly rubber, these totes feature rounded sides that produce a bowling bag-inspired silhouette, and yet the flat open top and square top handles are reminiscent of a classic canvas or straw tote. But what really makes the bags unique is their intricate cut-outs, which create diamond shapes along the center panels and rectangular, cage-like grids along the side panels. The effect is almost basket-like, as if strips of rubber had been woven to create the motif.
Measuring 13.7″ in length, 11.8″ in height, and 5.9 in width, each tote retails for £10.00 at SunJellies.com. Three color ways are available, each named after a fairy tale or children’s book character — there’s Dorothy, a scarlet red tote named after the Toto-living Kansas girl who landed in Oz (and who so lover her ruby red slippers); Alice, a baby pink style dubbed after the white rabbit-chasing, oh-so-curious blonde who ventured to Wonderland; and Charlotte, a black number presumably named after the title character in Charlotte’s Web and, in an apropos move, featuring a spiderweb-worthy hue.
If you’d prefer to leave the jelly accessories to your mini-me, then snatch up the Matilda, a mini version of the Alice tote which was dubbed after the young girl with the magical powers brought to life in Roald Dahl’s 1988 novel.
Lightweight and whimsical, these jelly totes are perfect for summer excursions to the lake or beach, impromptu picnics, and boardwalk strolls. Just remember that the cut-out details will make this a pick-pocketer’s dream, so play it safe with your valuables!
