Do you have a FRAKTA bag at home? 🛍️ Chances are, you do. With a new @ikea opening in London, let’s unpack the story behind that instantly recognisable blue tote. The FRAKTA was born in the 1980s when IKEA’s founder and his assistant noticed that most customers were juggling items in their hands on the way to the checkout. The fix was a roomy, reusable bag you could sling over your shoulder or hook onto a trolley. The first versions were bright yellow and available to buy and borrow in-store, but that caused confusion as no one could tell who had paid for their bag. The solution was a brand-new version in blue: the FRAKTA, sold only at the tills. Since then, millions have been sold around the world. They've carried everything from flat-pack wardrobes to family laundry. In New York, they even helped dog owners get around a public transport rule requiring pups to be in a bag - cue FRAKTAs with holes cut out for the legs. More than just a bag, the FRAKTA is a symbol of IKEA’s democratic design ethos: practical, affordable - and surprisingly stylish. How do you use yours? 📸 1: Nate Rosen, 2: @agneshjalart / Ruth Alvarado