Introduction to From Around the Shop: It is a Tanbark-thing!

 A recent trip to the sail loft above our “shop” on Custom House Wharf was quite revealing. Mysteriously the loft defies the law of physics that proves heat rises.  Behind a thick curtain and up the narrow staircase, there is an extensive collection of sails chilling like fine wine.

Despite the overwhelming appearance, I did notice an organizational system to the bounty of used sails stacked on industrial shelves. The rainbow spectrum of spinnaker material is along the right wall. On top of the billowing mounds of Dacron, there are rolls and rolls of criss-crossed Kevlar.

To the left where the afternoon sun pours through the window, I saw a pile of panels in hues ranging from rustic brick to the lighter shades of a faded picnic table. I had discovered (maybe not “discovered” but it was new to me) Tanbark in the sail loft.

The unique Tanbark color was achieved by submerging the sails in tannins which is a compound usually derived from tree bark. During the days of canvas sails, the process was used to protect the sails from rot, mold and mildew. Tanbark is a nostalgic color and a charming look that represents the essence of cruising under sail. 

Now Dacron sails can be dyed this color. These panels in our loft were cut from retired sails used on large teaching vessels such as schooners or sloops.

Tanbark is not only aesthetically pleasing, but the color reduces glare, and the dye pigment offers improved UV protection over a natural shade. The finish is a medium firm with high quality weaves. The cloth is only available in the heaviest of weights so there isn’t much interest among modern racers/cruisers.

I am among the first to admit that Tanbark sailcloth makes a handsome and rugged bag. The reddish brown color reminds me of a rustic sunset and the look adds an historical affect to a modern material.

What aspects of life on Custom House Wharf or manufacturing at Sea Bags have you always wondered about?

Elmer Fudd called and he wants his hat back

From the window overlooking Bow Street, I have noticed that there is something going on with winter hats. We are witnessing a millinery trend that starts with Elmer Fudd and his hat. Since 1937 this eggheaded character has forgone fashion for the ability to untie the side flaps that protect his ears when hunting wabbits.

Wacky skiing hats are also popular on these streets of fashion. There is a love-hate following to these hats with spikes or wiry projectiles expressing the reckless abandonment and “look at me” attitude that allegedly one gets from downhill skiing.

Now the third element of my winter hat evolution hasn’t appeared in Freeport –yet- but has had an impact nevertheless: the Fascinator of the royal wedding of 2011. Remember the sudden fascination with these ridiculously fabulous Fascinator hats?

It is my belief that elements of Elmer Fudd, skiing, and Fascinators have combined to create the look that is now known as the mad bomber hat. Children are cute in the critter versions with little ears on the top and colored pom-poms on the end of the elongated earflap strings. On a retail website, the blonde model looks good wearing a silver metallic quilted version with “polyester satin lining and faux fur trim…Snap tab secures under chin.”

Other than these two examples, it is my observation that few people look good in this type of hat. But then perhaps, in the tradition of Elmer Fudd, appearance is no longer relevant. Could it be that style has been overruled by the practicality of keeping your ears warm?

I don’t think so either. It is about individual style. Even in muted colors these bomber hats are bold and demand attention. These hats are fun loving and whimsical. Looking good may not be a top priority, but the pay off is another form of creative expression. And let us not forget the well-earned head of hat hair once the millinery oddity is removed.

Forget the earmuffs and never mind head wraps. Now is the time to embrace winter freedom and let the flaps fall as the may as we marshal forward with warm ears. And, above all, this is a good way to guarantee that you won’t take yourself too seriously!

If interested, here is an instructional video on making your own bomber hat.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

A kind looking woman visited the store recently. She immediately identified herself as a boater and took interest in our vast selection of totes. I explained how easy it is to have a clasp added to the tote of her choice or how we could make a bag with a zipper if that was her preference.

We talked about our shared loved of pockets. And agreed that pockets are like closets, you can never have too

many of them. I showed her our “baby bag” style of tote with six pockets and metal clasp.

Suddenly the conversation turned quiet. After a pregnant pause, she asked if I had a bag with powerboats on it instead of the primary colored tiny sailboats that decorated the bag we were admiring seconds ago.

This was the first time I became aware of the Hatfields/McCoys aquatic feud between power boaters and sail boaters. She admitted, “I could not possibly carry a bag with a sailboat on it.”

The change in the woman’s demeanor and her adamant refusal of a sailboat image made me curious about the origin of her attitude. With a little informal research, I found that boaters do favor either one type or the other and often hold some perceptions (valid or not) about the “Other.” It is rare to find a person like myself –referred to as bi-boaters or transvesselites*- with “oars” in both boating worlds.

It comes down to a matter of personal preference on what type of experience is sought after leaving the dock. Powerboats with shallower drafts provide greater access to shallower water and can get closer to the beach. Whereas, sailboats -relying primarily on harnessing the wind - can offer an unlimited range of quiet travel. There is no wrong answer. I would not refuse either.

Anyway, the woman decided to customize her own version of the pocketed “baby bag”. We agreed that a durable, domestically manufactured bag made from recycled sailcloth with an overt nod to nautical lifestyle is the best accessory of all – no matter what type of boating experience you prefer.

*For more on the differences, read: http://www.liveaboardliving.com/power-vs-sail.htm

Don’t Fear White: The Love and Care of a Sea Bag

I was given my first Sea Bag as a gift from my girlfriend. I immediately liked the pristine white Dacron sailcloth in contrast to the nautical, bold graphic number 5 on the front. The white hand-spliced rope added to the crisp appearance.  It is a style smart look.

Now some customers tell me that they worry about being able to keep the white totes clean. There is nothing to fear, I reassure them.

Character Verses Flaws. Sea Bags maintains its commitment to using recycled materials, so that means that there are many different shades of white.  It is a proud moment for me to help people understand that repurposed sails come with character - not blemishes or flaws.

Continue the Journey.  Part of the fun of carrying a Sea Bag is knowing that you are continuing the journey of a sail that has carried its boat and crew over the seas and is now carrying your books, gear or groceries ashore.

Showroom New. Now that we have adjusted our definition of what it means to be showroom new, here are some of the ways I care for my bags –that have white handles and do not have metallic accents.

• A couple times a year I soak the WHITE handles in a bleach and water mixture. I put the solution in a cookie sheet with an inch or so depth and submerge the handles. Rinse thoroughly.
• Spot clean trouble spots with liquid dish soap.
• Toss the bag in the washing machine and use usual laundry detergent. Your choice on water temperature and cycle. Cold water is fine on SOAK or DELICATE cycle depending on your washing machine. I usually use something warmer because I am tougher on my bags. (THIS HINT IS ONLY FOR BAGS WITHOUT METALLIC DETAILS.)
• During the summer, I like to take the bag with me into the surf and soak it bag in sea water for awhile because I find that this helps clear out the nook-and-crannies before putting it into the washer as described above.
• Hang to dry

Don’t fear the white. Instead embrace the white Dacron as your canvas and your opportunity to make this bag a part of your lifestyle.

OUR JANUARY WHITE SALE SAIL!

The new year is off to a bright and chilly start. We see the return of the puffy coat and fur lined parkas out of our window to Bow Street in Freeport. Children gather at the bus stop surrounded by billowing clouds of their own breath. It is the type of weather that once you are inside a house and you realize that you have forgotten something in the car, there is a moment or two of self-searching and weighing just how badly you need that item, given the effort and breath-stealing chill involved in retrieving it. We become a lot more organized with our trips to the car, or anywhere outside, this time of year.

Freeport has returned to its winter self. It is quiet. Jingle bells and the clopping of the horse drawn carriage no longer competes with the street noise. Given that we are an outdoor shopping mecca, shoppers now stay bundled up and walk briskly usually with their coffee cups held close to their bodies for attempted warmth.

Even though January has been traditionally the time for White Sales developed as a boring tactic to keep linen makers in business during this slow time of year, here at Sea Bag’s we are the unofficial home of the White Sail and there is nothing boring about it!

Stepping into the Sea Bags store is an instant reminder of warmth and fun.  Against the white of recycled Dacron, our designs are as robust as they are functional. A red star medium tote carried on the shoulder of a bright green puffy coat -or leopard print carcoat - is just as refreshing now as it was a few months ago, and just as stylish as it will be on a cotton sleeve this summer.

We enjoyed a busy holiday season. Countless Sea Bags are now debuting as part of the new January White Sail. Each bag holds its own unique character based a commitment to reusable resources and with a distinguished nautical flair.

What Sea Bag do you carry during the winter?