ecobags, repair shops and masking tape
By hereandthere
@hereandthere (45645)
Philippines
April 25, 2018 1:06am CST
this red ecobag contained promotional products from a well-known food company.
i saved it for myself because i liked the size - about 13 inches by 13 inches.
i wondered if it's possible to put a zipper on it so the contents don't spill out.
and to protect them from sneaky hands, too.
so i took it to the new repair shop and here's the result.
i paid 70 pesos (US$3.72) for labor.
i bought the zipper elsewhere, but forgot how much it cost.
"can you also put zippers on canvas ecobags?"
"it would probably need bigger zippers."
"oh, like the ones here on my leather wallet?"
"yes."
we agreed that i would show him the canvas ecobags first so he can figure out how.
i remember when i first went to his shop, he wrote my name and the amount to pay on a thin piece of masking tape then taped it the ecobag.
i noticed that that's also how small stores put prices on their items now.
they just write it on masking tape and stick it.
21 people like this
22 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
you are doing our environment a favor.
5 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
we have a lot of ecobags of different sizes, but i decided to experiment on this one and maybe make it look like a shoulder bag.
5 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@hereandthere it is good, but can it carry heavy loads like a liter of mineral water?
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
@ridingbet i only bring 500ml. i'm considering this more for times when i need to run errands like pay bills, go to the bank, etc where you carry several small but important things.
4 people like this
@SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
@hereandthere Actually, it was for 120 pala. Sorry for the memory gap.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
@SIMPLYD i knew it. i had to buy the zipper because he said he only stocks the short ones.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
you mean you paid 80 pesos for both the zipper and the labor?
3 people like this
@much2say (56444)
• Los Angeles, California
25 Apr 18
I bought a bunch of reusable bags for my groceries, but none of them have zippers. The way I buy groceries, they would be sure to bust. I do see the reusable bags for hot or cold items . . . they definitely need the zippers to keep the temperature inside - but I have not gotten those kinds of bags yet.
2 people like this
@much2say (56444)
• Los Angeles, California
26 Apr 18
@hereandthere Like a flexible foil fabric, right?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
we don't have it here, but i know there are in other countries. they have this shiny lining inside.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@much2say i think they call it freezer bag, to retain heat or cold. say, you're buying frozen meats, or you're going on a picnic.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52149)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
Never thought of that before, I guess you could some locks as well, right? that's an innovation.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
i think the zipper is enough. there's usually small stalls in the public markets that do alterations on clothes and pants.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
we also have a plastic charge here.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (472258)
• Switzerland
25 Apr 18
@hereandthere At least the usage of plastic bags is 85% down since the tax was introduced.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
i'm glad i chose the white zipper. the other choices were red and pink.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
29 Apr 18
i wish i could remember how much the zipper cost, but i'm sure it was also less than 100 pesos (US$ 1.94). the ecobag is free and i haven't seen ecobags with zippers here.
1 person likes this
@Madshadi (8840)
• Brussels, Belgium
29 Apr 18
@hereandthere maybe there are cheap ones on the internet
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
30 Apr 18
show it first to the alternation shop and ask them if it's possible and what type of zipper to buy
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
1 May 18
because i made the mistake once of putting it on my lap and my cellphone slipping out.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9115)
• United States
3 May 18
@hereandthere ugh, well that should not happen anymore. tend to carry things with me in bag like magazines so I can read while kids are at events, and my stuff does fall out too. I will have to look for a nice bag with a zipper.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
i'm pleased the experiment turned out well.
2 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
yes, the experiment turned out okay. years ago, i lost a phone inside the jeepney because i put the ecobag (without zipper) flat on my lap and it probably slipped out.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@rheicel it was a nokia, years ago.
1 person likes this
@rheicel (7065)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@hereandthere Oh my, was it an expensive phone?
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
26 Apr 18
ecobags here don't have zippers, too. this was just an experiment, but i'm glad it turned out well. it was also ready the next day, though i went 2 days later. maybe because his shop is still relatively new, so he's not loaded with jobs yet.
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
@dsrl_6 this way, i'm also supporting small businesses here in my neighborhood
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
i'm not into arts and crafts, not creative nor handy enough. but i can sew tears and holes on my clothes.
1 person likes this
@dsrl_6 (99)
• Quezon, Philippines
27 Apr 18
@hereandthere alright then. Just let others do it. You will not enjoy afterall.
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
i labeled/put text on the picture using microsoft paint. it's not printed on the bag itself.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
30 Apr 18
Good thinking! I like the idea of the zipper and the price seems pretty reasonable.
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
27 Apr 18
That's a pretty bag. I'd be afraid to find out what adding a zipper would cost around here
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
26 Apr 18
Yes, the zip would definitely stop curious hands diddling into it..
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
27 Apr 18
yes, based on the picture of my ecobag i've attached
1 person likes this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
25 Apr 18
plastic also have their use, especially for wrapping wet things, or to protect something from getting wet.
1 person likes this