From Mercadona to Favourite Bag: The Green Upcycled Tote Palma Wears

From Supermarket Bag to Plaça Accessory

When the late-afternoon heat still hangs over the Plaça Major and the cicadas chirp in the plane-tree grove, you see them everywhere: the large green bag from Mercadona. It carries bottles of wine, beach toys, the latest market find. And suddenly, with a colourful pareo and five minutes to spare, this everyday item becomes a real statement — practical, inexpensive and unmistakably Mallorcan.

What you need — minimalist and typically island-style

No sewing class, no craft shop. Only three things are enough: a Mercadona bag, a colourful scarf or pareo (about 1.5 m x 0.9 m), and a little time — at most five minutes. If you like, slide a small metal chain, a carabiner or a fabric flower through the handles. On the Passeig des Born I saw an older woman yesterday who had decorated hers with colourful fabric flowers — very charming, very authentic.

The simple technique — quickly explained

Lay the scarf flat on the table, place the green bag in the middle and wrap the scarf edges once around the handles. Then tuck the scarf into the opening of the bag and pull the edges outwards so the pareo forms the interior. Knot any excess material at the handle once casually — it holds better and looks deliberately imperfect. No sewing, no gluing. The outer shell stays stable, the scarf provides colour, pattern and a soft feel.

I used a pareo I rarely wear, and suddenly the bag no longer looked like a grocery basket but like the bag you like to take to the cove bar: room for a towel, a book, and of course an espresso to go. Small trick: if you slip a mini handbag inside as a lining pocket, keys and wallet are immediately at hand.

Why this works so well in Mallorca

The Mercadona bag is plain but sturdy — it carries everything from fresh bread to beach gear. Personalised with an inner fabric, it becomes a small upcycling project that costs almost nothing. On an island where resources have been learned to be valued, this is more than a DIY craze: it's practical sustainability. A simple statement against a throwaway mentality and against the idea that style has to be expensive.

At the Mercat de l’Olivar or the market in Santa Catalina you often see a colourful mix: a young mother with a bag holding vegetables and child sandals, a student with textbooks, a tourist with a camera. All these users have something in common — they want something that lasts without making a fuss. The green tote is made for exactly that.

Variants and small extras

A few simple ideas to personalise the bag further: a short metal chain through the handles for a bit of rock ’n’ roll; a carabiner to hang sunglasses or house keys; a small fabric pouch as an inner lining for organisation. If you like sewing, you can secure the pareo in a few places with one or two stitches — but it's really not necessary.

And yes: the whole thing is sustainable too. Instead of buying a new bag, an existing product gets a second chance. In Mallorca, where many still know how to repair or reuse things, this fits into everyday life. It's not a grand political manifesto, more a friendly suggestion: buy less, use more.

Looking ahead — small gestures, big impact

Such simple upcycling ideas are contagious. They invite experimentation: morning bike ride, afternoon at the beach, evening at the bar — the same bag accompanies you through the day. No designer logo, but character and stories: the crust of yesterday's baguette, the salty smell of the sea, the espresso cup hanging from the handle.

Conclusion: If you're looking for a quick, cheap everyday upgrade, try this after your next ice-cream break. It takes hardly longer than a chat with your neighbour on the stairs, costs almost nothing and turns a plain shopping bag into a piece of everyday life with personality. And if you really rub the bag against the rocks — well, then it's time for a new pareo.