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Three people are in a room with wooden flooring, surrounded by fabric pieces and sewing equipment. On the left, a person wearing an orange headscarf and matching outfit sits on a wooden chair, barefoot, with hands resting on their lap. In the center, another person in a maroon headscarf and light blue clothing sits on the floor, working with fabric. On the right, a third person in a green top and red pants sits cross-legged on the floor, also handling fabric. Behind them, a sewing machine sits on a stand with bags and materials nearby, and a table holds more supplies against a white wall.
  • 2 facilitators

Monday 19 October 2026

Tote bag handle redesign and adjustability testing

Facilitated by Shabana K H

What the work needed: people, time, money, space and materials.
What went in
The team made handle prototypes and changed the sizes. They also looked at adjustable buckles made from sustainable materials.

What was done with those inputs, step by step.

The team ran design tests to make tote bag handles more comfortable and useful. They made a prototype with one handle slightly wider and longer. They looked at how it looked and worked.

Finding one standard handle length was hard. Users have different heights and body types.

The team thought about making the whole bag smaller. They decided not to. They wanted the bag to stay the same size and wanted to avoid extra production problems.

Instead, they tested an adjustable strap with buckles made from sustainable materials. This helps users of different heights.

The team also looked at durability and machine washability. Metal buckles could rust and stain the fabric in the wash. Other materials must handle repeated washing and strain from use.

They set baseline handle sizes. They began looking for adjustable buckles for more testing before finalising the design.

What changed for the people who took part, and what showed it.

The team identified adjustable straps as a potential solution for improving tote bag handle comfort and accommodating users of different heights without changing the overall bag dimensions. Baseline handle dimensions were established and suitable buckles were identified for further evaluation.

What the team will keep or change next time.

The team learned that users have different heights and body types. Designers must consider this when making handles. The material must last and cope with machine washing. Buckles could also stain the fabric.

The team needs more testing. The strap may not yet be practical, durable or suitable for everyday use.

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