Envirochic, I'd like you to meet groceries.

Mother earth has got class. Reusable grocery bags rocketed into the spotlight recently thanks to San Francisco Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi's anti-plastic grocery bag legislation, but another big name entered the green game of late: Louis Vuitton. Esteemed fashion designer Marc Jacobs put his thimble and sewing machine to work in creating one of the first high-fashion reusable tote bags, the "That's L.O.V.E." collection. Created in honor of the venerable Louis Vuitton the series features clever appellation, coyly stating that "You can't spell the word LOVE without the letters "LV." The bag offers more than a mere namedrop; it's prohibitively expensive costing a whopping $1,720.

Being green has long been perceived as being hip, trendy, and environmentally conscious; but with the advent of high-priced green couture being ecosavvy can be a status symbol. In years past status symbols were often markedly not-green, Escalades, sports cars, diamond rings; none of these are environmentally friendly. The obscenely overpriced "That's Love" grocery bag provides a way to show off one's financial fortitude while doing their part to help out ol' Gaia. Moreover, not only does the bag scream "I'M RICH" but also "I'M GREEN AND HIP AND TRENDY." This colorful bag kills three birds with one stone, one mossy non-petroleum based stone.

Americans need all the incentives they can get to persuade them to put down the plastic and pick up the pace on environmentalism. Americans love showing off how efficiently they can spend money on largely worthless things. Last year the ringtone industry raked in nearly $600 million, a few Segways moved off the rack, and a $20,000 Selfridges belt sold quite prolifically. In our consumer culture, the higher an item's price the more desirable the item becomes. Making eco-friendly products appeal to the chic and shabby alike is a boon to the movement.

Gelson's offers two bags for $3, a deal that may appeal to the financially strapped and fashion ambivalent, but no self-respecting aspiring Paris Hilton would be caught dead with such a fashion abomination dangling from his or her arm. Green doesn't necessitate frugality; like all successful product lines reusable grocery bags needs to run the gamut of affordability, or lack thereof.