Handmade in Maine from Recycled Sails
The Heritage Collection
Every sail has a story, some have something greater. The Sea Bags Heritage Collection brings together the rich history of sailing, sail making, and coastal life. Handcrafted from pedigreed sails of historic schooners and sailing yachts, each bag in these series is limited in quantity and features unique trims and rare, upcycled sail cloth.
Latest Release
Limited Edition Tanbark Market Tote
Crafted with iconic tanbark sails, our Limited-Edition Heritage Tanbark Market Tote is an ode to the adventurous sailors and fishermen who depended on these rugged sails. The process to create tanbark sails was developed by these fishermen in the early 1800s. This pioneering technique was labor-intensive and done completely by hand to increase the durability of sails for harsh North Atlantic weather. Honoring the tanbark tradition, each handcrafted Heritage Tote is numbered and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity. Designed as an exclusive, limited-edition tote, there are only 46 available.
Tanbark Market Tote Features
- Tanbark sail exterior
- Black rolled leather handles
- Antique brass hardware
- Embossed leather logo patch
- Individually numbered
- Black cotton canvas exterior pockets
Heritage Tales
Tanbark sails were a critical tool for fishermen in the North Atlantic.
It took the cooperation of an entire community to tan sails. Starting with the gathering of tree bark, then boiling the bark in large kettles, and finally dunking and drying sails, ropes, and traps in the mixture to imbue them with increased resistance to mold, mildew, and UV light.
Learn more about the sail's history >Previous Releases
All Heritage Collection releases further the legendary story of their sail with understated and timeless design. These Heritage Collection releases were limited editions and are no longer available for purchase.
Heritage Gloucester Tote
2023
Constructed in 1894 in Essex MA, the 156-foot schooner Effie M. Morrissey started her life as a fishing vessel. The Effie M. would go on to explore the Arctic and sail as a packet ship between the US and Cape Verde before becoming a U.S. national historic landmark. The sails collected from this storied vessel tell a tale with every stitch. Only a Few Remaining >
Heritage Market Schooner
2023
Storied sails were recovered from the Schooner Roseway, built in 1925 by John James of Essex, Massachusetts, for this limited release. At the time, the North Shore of Massachusetts was afflicted with “racing fever” when the Nova Scotians began challenging the Gloucester area fishermen to annual races. The Roseway was commissioned just for that, built with utility for fishing and shaped for speed. Learn more >
Heritage Tiziana
2023
Greek for "Great One" — Built by Abeking & Rasmussen and launched in 1963, Tiziana was one of the very first sailing yachts over 30 meters. During years cruising the waters of the Mediterranean, the Tiziana hosted royalty, celebrities, business and political world leaders. She has circumnavigated the globe and traveled over 25,000 miles. Learn more >
Heritage Sea Salt
2020
Authentic canvas sails were rescued and recycled to craft a just a few of these rugged totes. The original cream color was preserved, allowing the texture and original sail maker's stitches to add character. The Sea Salt Canvas bags were unlike any other and celebrated the origins of sailing when cotton canvas was the preferred material.
Heritage Schooner
2019
Originally designed as a competitive fishing vessel, the Schooner Roseway was later commissioned to guide ships in Boston Harbor during World War II. She retired as a passenger vessel in Maine and is now the home base of the World Ocean School. These rare canvas sails underscore the vessel's historical pedigree and live on as useful totes with a storied past.