In what way might I store my umbrella in my purse while absorbing excess water from it so that I can take it out again and use it without dripping too much?

For this design project, I gathered five users of foldable/ portable umbrellas in a room for a focused group discussion. These were mostly made up of office mates. There were two women and three men among the respondents. I asked them about their typical experiences of using umbrellas during the rainy season. I discovered that some of them decided on what type of umbrella to bring depending on how the weather looks: a big umbrella if there would be a storm and a smaller, portable umbrella if there would be some downpour. Not all of them also check the weather forecast for the day but judge based on how the sky looks like when they leave for work. I focused on their experience of using portable/ foldable umbrellas and described a possible solution of a bag that could absorb excess moisture on the inside and be waterproof on the outside. I showed them a prototype of the bag. I then probed what they wanted out of the bag, what suggestions they had for the bag, what issues they would consider in assessing the bag, and what they liked or disliked about the concept of the bag. I then recorded their responses using notes. I also asked to see their portable umbrellas. 

The bag will not wet the contents of one's purse or gym bag
The bag sufficiently dries the umbrella for multiple uses
The bag will not leak into one's purse

The bag accommodates different sized portable umbrellas
The bag adjusts to the size of the umbrella
The bag is made of flexible material
The bag can expand to accommodate an umbrella that wasn't folded properly

The bag does not have a bad smell
The bag is washable
The bag is made of anti-bacterial material
The bag has deodorant properties

The bag isn't easily left behind/ forgotten
! The bag has a hook or strap that can be attached to one's purse or a gym bag
! The bag can be attached to one's clothing (belt loop of jeans or trousers)

The bag is dual purpose
! The bag can store small documents (bills, train ticket or card, coins) and keep them from getting wet
! The bag can store spare socks, foldable shoes or slippers
! The bag can double as a spare bag for wet items from the gym

The bag is light weight
The bag does not weigh much even when soaked with rain water
The bag is made of light materials

The bag is durable
The bag will not tear if handled roughly
The bag will last long and will not deteriorate after a year

The bag makes it easy handle the umbrella
The bag doesn't have any elements inside it that will make it difficult to pull out the umbrella
The bag is designed to make it easy to stuff back the umbrella
The bag makes it possible for the user to pull out or put in the umbrella in a matter of seconds

The bag is attractive/ stylish
The bag can be used by both men and women
! The bag has different designs to suit different personalities
! The bag has different colors on the inside and the outside

Old gap: A way to store my umbrella in my purse while absorbing excess water from it so that I can take it out again and use it without dripping too much. 

Refinement of the gap: 

In what way might I ...

be more successful?

be perceived as more "together," professional-looking and unruffled?

have a hassle-free commute while it's raining?

not wet the inside of my purse and wet my clothes and shoes when commuting in the rain?

* store my umbrella in my purse while absorbing excess water from it so that I can take it out again and use it without dripping too much?

have a tool that protects my purse from getting wet while it absorbs excess water?

have a flexible, washable and secure bag or container for my umbrella that is absorbent on the inside and, at the same time, waterproof on the outside?