DIY Broken Umbrella Tote Bag

Broken umbrellas are all over the place. Blame it on the rain? Planned obsolescence is more like it - meaning stuff is made to break. Umbra visits the Fixers Collective in Brooklyn, a "social experiment in improvisational fixing and mending". You can get your fix here, with step-by-step instructions to make a tote bag out of a broken umbrella. Carrying groceries never looked so good and reuseful. Watch this!

Links:
To learn more about the Fixers Collective or support them by buying an umbrella bag:
http://fixerscollective.org/main/

Better Off Soaked - A blog filled with pictures of broken umbrellas
http://broken-umbrellas.blogspot.com/

Handmade Upcycled Umbrella Dog Raincoats and hoods for people!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33339788

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• advice
• Ask Umbra
• green
• how-to
• DIY
• carbon footprint
• umbrellas
• broken umbrellas
• tote bag
• reusable
• fixers collective
• proteus gowanus
• Brooklyn
• recycle
• reuse
• upcycle

[Mohirrim]

I can't find the bag pattern. Where can I download it? I've had a look on 'ask umbra' as well.

[martamima]

So! No sooner did I figure all that out - I realized the umbrella I wanted to use had a nice decorative edge - which was only going to show a little bit at the top of the handles. What to do? Cut it upside-down, of course! That makes an equally fine design with the umbrella seams!

[martamima]

Just found this, it takes most of the sting out of having accidentally trashed a beloved umbrella! I have a suggestion, though. My printer is not large enough to print the pattern full size. I can extrapolate, because the print program tells me the amount of scaling (and of course....umbrellas vary in size, so my mileage may vary). It would help a LOT if you included measurements. By my calculations, your bag piece is 16" W x 18.5" H; Stuff sack is 8.75" x 5.75".

[diaryme91]

the red hair? like seriously?

[TheJcp1234]

Weird chics.

[blinkythe1]

So awesome x)

[AphroditeEros33]

This is a very eco friendly fantastic idea!^^ The fabric of umbrella is super light, easily foldable, yet waterproof, so we can always keep it in our daily bag and use it as shopping bag^^ In Germany, it's natural to bring your own shopping bag or basket when you go to grocery shopping and I think we should practice that as well to be kind to our beautiful earth^^ Thank you so much for sharing this great idea & posting this video^^

[kasmiralyric]

Great idea! Will do it to my umbrella when it eventually breaks!

[misssxcgirl1995]

awsome

[princess7strawberry]

This is awesome! I've been trying to find other uses to make old umbrellas from, and places that can repair umbrellas. I was really disappointed when my old one started breaking, and even more disappointed when I realized that umbrellas were disposable products. I'm glad that GristTV produced this episode. I really needed it.