Heritage Tanbark Market Tote

Tanbark sails have a rich history, dating back to the 1800s and the golden age of sail. Named for the process by which they're made, tanbark sails were especially popular among North Atlantic fishermen for their durability and resistance to mold, mildew, and UV light. In fishing communities like Newfoundland and Brittany, tanning sails was an important cultural activity that engaged everyone young and old to help collect bark, heat up massive tanning kettles, and assist dunking and tanning sails, traps, and nets to improve their durability for harsh ocean environments.

The process to make tanbark begins with collecting fallen branches and stripping bark from larger hardwood trees then boiling the bark in kettles to extract the tannins, and finally dunking hemp or cotton canvas sails, thus tanning the sails with bark. The newly imbued sails were critical for sailors spending most days at sea and who had to often roll up their sails still wet.

These limited-quantity individually numbered totes are an ode to the adventurous sailors and fishermen who depended on rugged sails to power them through countless days on the water. Combining authentic tanbark sailcloth with leather and brass accents, and black canvas pockets inside and out, the Heritage Tanbark Market Tote is a practical, yet stylish bag that honors the tanbark tradition.

This item does not qualify for discounts.