Upcycled Accessories with Clara Chu – Make

Learn how to transform everyday objects into one-of-a-kind accessories in this creative upcycling workshop.

Join handbag designer and artist Clara Chu for an engaging upcycling workshop where participants will explore the art of transforming discarded household and industrial items into unique, stylish accessories – all without sewing! Clara will guide you through binding techniques and share her process of creating innovative, handcrafted bags using circular design principles.

Participants will work with both provided materials and personal items brought from home. Clara will demonstrate how to reimagine everyday objects into the functional components of a bag – from the main body to handles and fastenings – showing how even shower curtains or telephone wire can find new life as functional details.

Sketching tools and creative prompts will help spark ideas, guiding you to create not just an accessory, but a personal narrative crafted from the familiar, reinvented through creativity and care.

Recommended items to bring:

Toothbrushes Broken electronics: cables, plugs, earphones, game controllers Recyclable items: cereal boxes, crisp packets, cardboard food packaging, shoe boxes, disposable cutlery Old toys: board games, card games, stuffed animals, or miscellaneous parts Paper goods: old books, magazines, greeting cards, children’s books Sponges: kitchen, shower, or makeup sponges Textiles: old clothes, curtains, socks, towels, gloves, blankets, or carpets Strings and cords: ropes, shoelaces, bungee cords, embroidery thread, or chains Clips: paper clips, bulldog clips, laundry pegs Storage containers: biscuit tins, Tupperware, reusable water bottles