In 1999, Sea Bags was founded with the aspiration of creating beautiful and functional tote bags from recycled boat sails. At the very foundation of this proposal was the idea that individual sailors, yacht clubs, and sail lofts could recycle their sails with Sea Bags and receive product in return for those retired sails. Thus, the Sea Bags Sail Trade Program was born. They make the process of recycling your sail easy and enjoyable and for every usable sail, they offer a Sea Bags product in return. All the sails that are traded are made into bags and accessories in Portland, Maine by skilled artisans, one at a time. No two are exactly alike.
Of course, the sail trade program would not be possible without a passionate community of sailors. Every sail Sea Bags receives holds equal importance to them, whether it’s from one of the largest sailing yachts in the world or a small family boat. Sailing is a sport unlike any other—each sail carries marks and memories from its days on the water. Like Christie Finely's sail from the boat at her childhood summer camp that became a duffel bag for herself and coin purses for all of her camp friends. Or Nat Warren-White who traded in his sail that took him and his family on their circumnavigation of the world for five years. Sea Bags helps to preserve that memory with a keepsake that you will treasure forever.
Since its inception, Sea Bags’ sail trade program has reclaimed over 700 tons of sails that would have otherwise gone to a landfill. Sail trades can be performed in person at any of their 40+ store locations with one of their friendly and well-versed sales associates. Sea Bags makes the trade process as convenient as possible, so if you are unable to visit one of their stores, they will send a sail trade team member to pick up your sail(s) or provide you with the necessary information to ship your sail(s) free of charge. There is no sail too small or too far away.
They’re ready for another 20+ years of recycling sails. Learn more at seabags.com, or visit them in Annapolis at 168 Main Street.
