Vintage Crew Tanbark Backpack

We made just 14 of these one-of-a-kind Tanbark backpacks, developed in partnership with Flowfold®. Each 18L pack is made from Sea Bags vintage recycled Tanbark sail cloth and lined with 100% Repreve® recycled polyester ripstop fabric. This highly functional Vintage Crew Backpack features an interior compartment to carry class books, an exterior pocket for easy access to frequently used essentials and is finished with padded adjustable shoulder straps.

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.