Photos of heritage totes with models and sail panel being cut

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

Heritage Tanbark Market Tote hand-carried on dock

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

  • sailboat vector iconTanbark sail exterior
  • handles vector iconBlack rolled leather handles
  • hardware vector iconAntique brass hardware
  • medallion vector iconEmbossed leather logo patch
  • number vector iconIndividually numbered
  • pocket vector iconBlack cotton canvas exterior pockets
Tanbark Market Tote photo with interior features

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 >
Heritage Tanbark Market Tote being hand-stiched

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

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 >

Schooner Market Tote

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 >

Tiziana Tote

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 >

Sea Salt Products

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.

Schooner Products

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.